HJNO Mar/Apr 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAR / APR 2026 35 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com discrimination claims based on a state public- health immunity statute. The case, John Doe v. Dynamic Physical Ther- apy, LLC, et al., arose from events in December 2020, during the COVID-19 public health emer- gency. According to court records, the plaintiff — identified as “John Doe” to protect his pri- vacy — sought aquatic physical therapy services from Dynamic Physical Therapy in Louisiana. After initially scheduling follow-up appointments, Doe alleged he was later informed that the clinic would no longer provide aquatic therapy because he is HIV-positive. Doe filed suit in Louisiana state court, assert- ing claims under federal law, including the Amer- icans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as claims under Louisiana law. He alleged discrimination based on disability and resulting emotional distress. The defendants moved to dismiss the case, arguing that Louisiana’s Health Emergency Pow- ers Act — specifically La. Rev. Stat. §29:771(B) (2)(c)(i) — provided healthcare providers immu- nity from civil liability for actions taken during a declared public health emergency. The trial court dismissed the case and the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed, holding that the stat- ute barred Doe’s claims. The Louisiana Supreme Court declined review. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed the decision without signing their names to the opinion. The Court held that while states may define immunity for state-law claims, they have no authority to confer immunity from federal causes of action. Citing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the Court ruled that state courts must adjudicate federal claims under fed- eral law, regardless of conflicting state statutes. The case was remanded to Louisiana courts for further proceedings. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of Doe’s federal claims, not- ing that they may succeed or fail on other fed- eral grounds. Ascension DePaul Foundation Hosts Keeping Our Promises Gala on April 11 Ascension DePaul Foundation New Orleans (ADFNO) (formerly Daughters of Charity Foun- dation of New Orleans) will host its 12th Annual Keeping Our Promises Gala, presented by Quest Diagnostics, on April 11 at the Hyatt Regency, located at 601 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans. The evening will begin with a Patron Party at 6 p.m., leading into the gala from 7 to 11 p.m. The event includes food, cocktails, and a silent auc- tion and entertainment by Royal Essence. During the event, ADFNO will present the Inspired Cross Award to individuals who have worked to pro- mote health communities. The gala raises funds to support DePaul Community Health Centers’ efforts in providing high-quality healthcare for the community. For any questions regarding ticket purchases or sponsorship opportunities, contact Charles Robi- chaux at charles.robichaux@dcsno.org. Humana Launches $3M Fund for Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine Humana Inc. has launched a $3 million scholar- ship fund for incoming medical students at Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health founded XOCOM in April 2024. The fund provides annual full tuition scholarships for incoming medical students. LDH to Launch Inaugural Project M.O.M. Catalyst Site Hospitals Eleven inaugural catalyst site hospitals are work- ing with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Project M.O.M. (Maternal Overdose Mortality) to support recovery and healthy outcomes for moth- ers affected by substance use disorder (SUD). Project M.O.M. aims to deliver person-centered care navigation within a statewide system of coor- dinated care — ensuring that pregnant and post- partum women affected by substance use can access the comprehensive medical, behavioral health, and social supports needed to achieve healthy pregnancies and sustained recovery. The 11 inaugural hospitals are: • Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, • Lakeview Hospital, • Lane Regional Medical Center, • Ochsner American Legion Hospital, • Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, • Ochsner St. Anne Hospital, • Opelousas General Health System, • Our Lady of the Angels Hospital, • Rapides Regional Medical Center, • Touro Hospital, and • Woman’s Hospital. These hospitals have committed to: • Align leadership and staff around a culture shift that treats substance use disorder in pregnancy as a medical condition and reduces stigma. • Implement universal verbal screening for substance use and standardized clinical pathways and training that support evi- dence-based care during pregnancy and postpartum. • Ensure timely initiation, uninterrupted con- tinuation, and coordinated transitions of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) across care settings. • Integrate naloxone distribution and educa- tion into routine clinical workflows. • Embed hospital-based perinatal navigators to bridge prenatal, hospital, postpartum, and regional care coordination. Learn more about Project M.O.M. at: ldh.la.gov/ProjectMOM Tulane’s Freeman Futurist Series Probes the Future, Disruptions of Healthcare Industry Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business is bringing senior industry leaders to campus to examine how innovation is chang- ing the way healthcare is delivered, paid for, and scaled through a quarterly speaker series hosted by growth-strategy consultant and author Cliff Farrah spotlighting innovation, leadership, and technologies that are reshaping global industries. The Freeman Futurist Series with Cliff Farrah aims to equip working professionals, students, and alumni with an understanding of emerging and future business practices to help them gain an advantage in the workforce. Through panels featuring industry leaders, Tulane faculty, and alumni, each session examines how technologies, including AI, automation, robotics, and quantum computing, are transforming sectors across the economy. All programs will be recorded for digital distribution across Freeman and partner channels. The next session, on private equity, takes place in April. n