BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana’s new Secretary of Health, Bruce Greenstein, wasted no time setting a new course for the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), announcing three sweeping initiatives aimed at improving healthcare outcomes, boosting Medicaid program efficiency, and tackling fraud and abuse—all while saving taxpayer money.
“These initiatives reflect a commitment to smart, results-driven reform,” said Secretary Greenstein. “We’re investing in innovation and accountability to build a healthier Louisiana.”
The new priorities include:
1. Targeting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
LDH is launching a Fraud Waste and Abuse Task Force focused on curbing unnecessary spending and protecting taxpayer resources. Among the task force’s initial efforts:
- Data-sharing with the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV): Beginning April 23, LDH and OMV will cross-reference data to ensure Medicaid recipients don’t hold active driver’s licenses in other states—a potential indicator of ineligibility.
- AI-Powered Oversight: Partnering with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and LA DOGE, LDH will apply artificial intelligence to uncover irregularities and detect fraud within the Medicaid system.
- Strengthened Enforcement Collaboration: LDH’s Program Integrity Unit will expand its partnership with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to streamline investigations and maximize recoveries.
2. Reforming Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits
LDH announced plans to revamp how pharmacy benefits are managed within Louisiana Medicaid. The Department will move away from a single pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and instead work more directly with managed care organizations and frontline pharmacists.
The change is designed to:
- Minimize costs by reducing the role of third-party intermediaries.
- Address the closure of independent and chain pharmacies, which threatens access to care in many communities.
- Align with LDH’s larger goal of improving access, cutting waste, and strengthening the financial sustainability of the Medicaid system.
3. Project M.O.M. – Reducing Opioid Deaths Among Mothers
Project M.O.M. (Maternal Overdose Mortality) is a comprehensive new initiative designed to combat Louisiana’s leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths: accidental opioid overdose.
The project sets a bold goal of reducing opioid-related maternal deaths by 80% within three years, which could save the lives of an estimated 65 mothers annually.
Key strategies include:
- Scaling statewide access to overdose reversal medications like naloxone and buprenorphine.
- Training prescribers in evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment.
- Directing opioid settlement funds to high-impact community resources such as peer recovery programs and outpatient clinics.
“Louisiana already has the tools. Now we’re aligning our systems to make sure mothers don’t fall through the cracks,” said Dr. Pete Croughan, LDH Deputy Secretary. “Keeping mothers alive keeps families together—and that strengthens our entire healthcare system.”
A Systemic Approach
LDH will publish a roadmap within 30 days for Project M.O.M., name a dedicated program director, and convene statewide partners to begin implementing the plan. This includes improved data collection and updated incentive structures for hospitals and managed-care organizations.
The initiatives outlined reflect a broader vision for LDH: a smarter, more responsive health system that uses technology, accountability, and collaboration to serve Louisianans more effectively.
For more on LDH’s work, visit ldh.la.gov.