New Orleans Health Department
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
Measles Virus
Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, there are several groups that are more likely to suffer from measles complications:
✅ Children younger than 5 years of age
✅ Pregnant people
✅ People with weakened immune systems,
such as from leukemia or HIV infection
✅The measles vaccine is very effective. Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus.
City of New Orleans Releases Updated Transportation Safety Dashboard to Enhance Road Safety and Transparency
The City of New Orleans is proud to announce the launch of its updated Transportation Safety Dashboard, an interactive educational tool designed to empower residents and policymakers with the knowledge to make safer decisions on our streets. The redesign and information for the new dashboard were done in collaboration with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD), and the Office of Information Technology and Innovation in efforts to foster transparency and inform the community about the frequency and locations of roadway crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities. By highlighting areas where crashes occur more frequently, the city demonstrates its commitment to understand and prioritizing those areas for intervention.
Transportation Safety Dashboard
Updated July 17, 2024.
NOHD Launches Innovative Dashboard for Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit
The City of New Orleans Health Department is excited to introduce the Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCIU) Dashboard, an interactive educational tool designed to provide transparency and insight into operations and outcomes.
The dashboard promotes community education by providing near real-time data on MCIU operations, from call volume to response time to demographic information about the community members served by the program. Additionally, it will provide valuable resources for MCIU partners, giving them access to detailed insights that support data-driven decision-making and improve the program's effectiveness.
For more information about the Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit, please visit nola.gov/MCIU.
Updated: 7/12/2024
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A virtual meeting will be held at 10 a.m. CDT on July 17, 2024, to answer general questions related to this NOFA and accompanying application. Advance registration is requested for this meeting. You may register and submit questions in advance of the meeting to Andrew Sensi at Andrew.Sensi@nola.gov.
All completed applications and requested documentation must be submitted via email to Andrew.Sensi@nola.gov no later than 5 p.m. CDT on August 7, 2024.
Contact Jordan Vaughn, MD Public Health Clinical Director, NOHD at Jordan.vaughn@nola.gov or (504) 658-2598 for any additional information.
Download application
Updated 7/1/2024
Summer Meals for Students
SUN Bucks Summer EBT and SUN Meals for students are now available in New Orleans! Click here to learn more.
Posted: 6/21/2024
Office of Violence Prevention's Blood Drive Winner Announcement
Updated May 31, 2024
Prostate and Colon Cancer Awareness
Prostate and colon cancer are two common cancers that occur in two different organs, the prostate and colon, respectively. While they share some similarities, such as the older you get, the higher the risk, they are very different and require different specialists. The New Orleans Health Department's HCH clinics offer screenings for individuals with or without insurance.
Updated: 03/20/2024
LDH confirms two measles cases in Greater New Orleans area
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reporting that two individuals were diagnosed with measles in the Greater New Orleans Area. These individuals recently returned from a trip out of state. A public health investigation has been initiated and LDH will provide additional updates as we are able to collect more information.
For more information, read the notice from the Louisiana Department Of Health.
I think I have been exposed to measles. What should I do?
Immediately call your health care provider and let them know that you have been exposed to someone who has measles.
The Greater New Orleans Immunization Network offers free vaccines for children birth through 18 years of age.
Mobile Bus Schedule
March 2024
COVID-19 Treatments Available at No Cost to Eligible Individuals
If you have COVID-19, treatments that can reduce the severity of the illness are available. The U.S. government has partnered with Pfizer to make Paxlovid available at no cost for those with no health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other programs.
Paxlovid is for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
Follow these steps to take advantage of this program:
- GET TESTED
If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you can get a COVID-19 test by:
- Buying at-home test kits online or in pharmacies and retail stores.
- Getting tested at pharmacies, urgent care centers, doctor offices, and other local testing sites.
- Using the Treatment Locator to find a free COVID-19 test.
You must have a prescription for Paxlovid to start the enrollment process. You can get a prescription at a doctor’s office, urgent care and pharmacies with clinics.
- GET ENROLLED
Enroll by going to paxlovid.iassist.com or by calling 877-219-7225. A pharmacy staff member can also enroll you when you pick up the prescription.
- GET TREATED
Treatment must be started within 5–7 days of when you first develop symptoms. Paxlovid is taken orally twice a day at home. Take treatment as prescribed and contact your health care provider if you experience any complications.
Antivirals are not a replacement for COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines help reduce the risk of getting very sick before you have COVID-19; treatments can help you feel better if you have COVID-19. Both are helpful tools that can prevent serious illness.