New Orleans Health Department
Gun Free Zone Signage
The New Orleans Health Department is offering local business owners free signage to establish their physical locations as “firearm free” per R.S. 40:1379(O).
Request Signage for Your Business
Updated 12/02/2024
Statement on mass shooting
This weekend, our city faced another tragic act of violence that occurred in our neighborhoods. Our thoughts, prayers and support continue to go out to the victims, families, and everyone else who has, in some way, been impacted.
The Office of Violence Prevention is housed within the New Orleans Health Department, because we recognize violence as a public health crisis. Our commitment is to work tirelessly on finding solutions for those affected by violence, as violence is a collective problem that hurts us all.
We know that its effects and aftermath can continue for months and years to come. Events like these can be emotionally triggering and create difficulties with physical and mental health for those affected. Understanding this process, we want to provide you with some local resources. If you need help finding someone to talk with to express grief, sorrow, anger, or any other emotion, please reach out to the Trauma Recovery Center that is housed in University Medical Center. Other available resources are listed on our flyer. We hope our community can continue to heal, and please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office or Violence Prevention and seek services if needed.
Updated 11/18/2024
Vax & Go events offer free COVID-19 and flu shots
Getting vaccinated yourself protects people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, including babies and young children under 6 months who cannot be vaccinated, the elderly, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
Various community partners are hosting vaccination clinics to help protect our community against COVID-19 and flu ahead of the holiday season when cases rise. These events are open to the public and do not require insurance to receive the vaccines offered at each event.
Upcoming Events
December 2 | 9 a.m.-noon
HCH
Edna Pilsbury Health Center
2222 Simon Bolivar Ave
New Orleans, LA 70113
*COVID-19 and flu vaccines
Walk-In Clinic
Genoa Healthcare
2221 Philip St. Suite Q
New Orleans, LA 70113
*COVID-19 and flu vaccines
Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
No insurance, ID or payment required to receive vaccines.
Updated 12/2/2024
Free carbon monoxide alarms to Orleans Parish residents
The New Orleans City Council recently approved an ordinance mandating the requirement that all one- and two-family dwellings be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. NOHD is partnering with the New Orleans Fire Department to provide and install combination 10-year carbon monoxide/fire alarms to residents to support this ordinance.
Residents can request one alarm per level by completing this online request form: nola.gov/free-smoke-alarm
Be sure to designate that you are requesting a “Combination Alarm” in the “Additional Comments” section or the form. Supplies are limited.
Updated 10/17/2024
The New Orleans Health Department is proud to announce the publication of two pivotal reports that shed light on the pressing issues of chronic disease and food insecurity in our community and their disproportionate impact on communities of color. These reports showcase the New Orleans Health Department's dedication to addressing chronic disease by tackling the underlying factors driving health disparities. By linking food security to health, the department seeks to spark informed public discussion and promote collective action for a healthier, more equitable city.
Updated 10/7/2024
Misoprostol and Mifepristone Access Reporting Form Now Available
The intent of this form is to allow the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) to understand the impacts of ACT 246 throughout the City of New Orleans. Such impacts would include identifying challenges to legal and medically necessary access to mifepristone and misoprostol through a health care provider and/or pharmacist.
New Orleans City Council passed a unanimous motion on September 18, 2024 to task the Health Department to investigate and study any delay of care issues that result from Act 246, which classifies mifepristone and misoprostol as scheduled drugs effective October 1, 2024.
Patient and Provider Reporting Form
Updated 9/30/2024
Free, at-home COVID-19 test kits are now available to order
The federal government is once again providing up to four at-home COVID-19 test kits to households free of charge. You can request the kits at CovidTests.gov.
If you still have test kits from previous years, the website also has information on how to know if your test kits have expired or not.
Updated 9/27/2024
City of New Orleans’ Medical Debt Elimination Initiative in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt
The City of New Orleans entered into an agreement in May 2023 to partner with Undue Medical Debt and provide the national nonprofit with $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, or federal pandemic recovery funds, for the purpose of partnering with community-minded health care providers to acquire qualifying debt and erase it. Undue Medical Debt leverages these pandemic recovery funds as needed when collaborating with providers. The initiative aims to erase the existing medical debt of eligible New Orleans residents experiencing financial hardship. The medical debt elimination program was unanimously approved by the New Orleans City Council in December 2022. The initiative is managed by the New Orleans Health Department.
Residents who have debt cancelled through this initiative will receive a letter directly from the initiative. A sample letter is available for reference.
View Sample Medical Debt Elimination Letter
Undue Medical Debt Press Release
Medical Debt Elimination FAQs
Medical Debt Cancelled Through the New Orleans Medical Debt Elimination Initiative
| |
Acadian Ambulance |
Ochsner Health System |
Secondary Medical Debt Holders |
| Number of New Orleans residents impacted |
3,011 |
65,737 |
5,858 |
| Amount of debt cancelled |
$3,410,359.95 |
$58,865,307.77 |
$6,819,408.29 |
| Letters mailed to residents |
January 2024 |
July 2024 |
July 2024 |
Updated 8/19/2024