HJNO Jul/Aug 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2026 47 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com development, allowing for early detection of potential health issues. Well-child visits help ensure a healthy start for Louisiana’s children. Serving approximately 350,000 members state- wide — nearly 27% of Louisiana’s Medicaid man- aged care population — including 208,000 mem- bers under the age of 21, Louisiana Healthcare Connections reported significant gains in preven- tive pediatric care across all age groups. In the most recent reporting period, well- child visits increased by approximately nine per- centage points, measured against 2022 bench- marks. Additionally, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Louisi- ana Healthcare Connections members under the age of one achieved nearly 100% compliance for receiving all recommended well-child visits. Uti- lization rates remained above national averages across all age groups. Several key initiatives contributed to the dra- matic increases: • Strong provider relationships with pediatri- cians and obstetricians statewide, built over years of collaboration. • Incentive programs offering small rewards to both members and providers to encourage completion of recommended checkups. • Fluoride varnish integration, promoted through education and certification efforts, ensures preventive dental care is available during well-child visits. • Community outreach events at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Head Start locations. • Targeted member communications, includ- ing personalized reminder emails for well- child visits that averaged nearly 60% open rates, along with text messaging campaigns. • Louisiana-based social media influencer partnerships to encourage well-child visits, generating more than 500,000 impressions. Thibodaux Regional Pediatric ClinicWelcomes Jennifer Atkins Pediatrician Jennifer Atkins, MD, has joined Thibodaux Regional Health System and is avail- able to care for patients at Thibodaux Regional Pediatric Clinic located at 604 North Acadia Road, Suite 100, in Thibodaux. Atkins received a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She completed a residency in pediatrics at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Her clini- cal interests include newborn care, acute pedi- atric illness, and parent education. Atkins enjoys caring for children across all stages of develop- ment, from newborns to adolescents, and sup- ports families through both everyday concerns and more complex medical needs, including conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, asthma, and eczema. As a mother of four, Atkins brings a real-life, practical perspective to her care. She strives to create a space where parents feel heard, sup- ported, and confident in the decisions they make for their children. Louisiana Anticipates 1115 Prison Reentry Demonstration Waiver Approval Gov. Jeff Landry announced that Louisiana anticipates approval later this year from the Cen- ters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of its Section 1115 Medicaid Reentry Demonstration Waiver. Louisiana was the first state in the nation to align its waiver to reflect new federal require- ments under Sec. 71118 of H.R. 1 (OBBBA). This requirement establishes budget-neutrality man- dates for Medicaid demonstration projects begin- ning on January 1, 2027. The waiver, currently under review by CMS, reflects close coordination between the State of Louisiana and federal partners. Louisiana worked with CMS to identify alternative funding sources for the infrastructure needed to implement the waiver. The Section 1115 Reentry Demonstration is designed to improve health outcomes for indi- viduals transitioning from incarceration to their communities by connecting them to Medicaid coverage and critical pre-release services. The initiative focuses on improving continuity of care, particularly for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Many experience disruptions in care dur- ing incarceration and face elevated risks upon release, including overdose, emergency depart- ment utilization, and unmet behavioral health needs. Through the demonstration, eligible individu- als will receive a range of pre-release services, including case management, behavioral health treatment, medication-assisted treatment for sub- stance use disorders, medication supply upon release, and connections to community-based providers. This project will help coordinate care across LDH, correctional facilities, managed care orga- nizations, and community providers to ensure smoother transitions after release from jails and prisons. If approved, Louisiana will implement the dem- onstration through a phased, milestone-driven approach, prioritizing rollout at the eight state prison facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, followed by expansion to parish jails based on readiness. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center inMetairieWelcomes J. ChristianWinters, MD Jack Christian (“Chris”) Winters, MD, FACS, has joined Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Metai- rie. Winters is a urologist and urologic surgeon known for reconstructive urology, including the evaluation and treatment of bladder dysfunction, especially after prior cancer treatments, urinary incontinence, bladder compliance abnormalities, and urodynamics. Winters earned a bachelor’s degree from Lou- isiana State University in Baton Rouge and a medical degree from the Louisiana State Univer- sity School of Medicine. Board-certified by the American Board of Urology, he is a fellow of the J. Christian Winters, MD, FACS