Newsroom - Advocacy Center

3/2/12 - 11:22 AM by Pamela Fisher

Final Approval Granted on Settlement in Suit over Personal Care Services

Final approval has been granted for the Department of Health and Hospitals' (DHH) settlement in a class action brought by Medicaid beneficiaries of the Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) Program, expanding access to the Community Choice Waiver Program to more class members. The plaintiffs in this case were represented by the Advocacy Center, co-counsel Steven F. Gold, and AARP Foundation Litigation.

1/14/12 - 04:00 PM by Pamela Fisher

Settlement Reached in Suit over Personal Care Services

The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has reached a settlement in a class action brought by Medicaid beneficiaries of the Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) Program, expanding access to the Community Choice Waiver Program to more class members. The plaintiffs in this case were represented by the Advocacy Center, co-counsel Steven F. Gold, and AARP Foundation Litigation.

10/2/11 - 08:32 PM by Pamela Fisher

Litigation Update: AC v. Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals

Image of Gavel In June, 2010, the Advocacy Center, the ACLU and the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis, filed suit against the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) on behalf of inmates who had been deemed incompetent to stand trial. Many of these severely mentally ill individuals were being kept in jails and prisons for long periods of time without the benefit of appropriate mental health treatment.

5/25/11 - 12:45 PM by Stephanie Patrick

Judge Rules: Pitts v. DHH Can Proceed

On May 18, 2011, AC received a positive decision in Pitts v. Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), which seeks to prevent hundreds of low-income people with severe disabilities from losing services and being institutionalized in nursing facilities. The judge ruled that the suit can proceed to trial, dismissing DHH’s motion for summary judgment.

4/13/11 - 09:40 PM by Stephanie Patrick

Court Order Ensures Treatment for Prisoners with Disabilities

In a victory for Louisianans with disabilities, today a federal court in New Orleans entered a consent decree requiring adequate treatment and care long denied to detainees with mental illness housed in the state's prisons.

3/30/11 - 10:17 AM by Stephanie Patrick

Nursing Homes Versus Home and Community Based Care: What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Nursing homes have been draining Louisiana’s resources while people with disabilities wait inordinate amounts of time for services in the community.

1/24/11 - 09:31 PM by Stephanie Patrick

PRISONER WITH MENTAL ILLNESS SUES JAIL FOR GROSSLY INADEQUATE TREATMENT

Roger Mason is a 52-year-old man with Schizophrenia. On August 18, 2009, Mr. Mason was arrested and placed in Tangipahoa Parish Prison. Despite clear evidence of Mr. Mason’s mental illness, the prison staff provided grossly inadequate care to him for 5 months.

9/22/10 - 07:32 PM by Stephanie Patrick

CLASS ACTION FILED TO STOP CUTS IN HOME CARE

Seeking to prevent nearly 11,000 low-income people with severe disabilities from losing services and being institutionalized in nursing facilities, the Advocacy Center yesterday filed a class action lawsuit against the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and its Secretary, on behalf of four people who receive Medicaid-funded personal care services.

8/11/10 - 11:13 AM by Stephanie Patrick

Federal Court Orders Louisiana to Provide Mental Health Care for Pretrial Detainees

In a victory for those unable to stand trial due to mental illness, a federal court ruled yesterday that all detainees who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial by Louisiana courts and ordered to receive restorative treatment must be transferred to the Feliciana Forensic Facility within 21 days. The court also ordered that a status report on the transfer of the detainees be submitted within 30 days updating the court on the implementation of its order.

8/1/10 - 02:04 PM by Stephanie Patrick

Update on the Chisholm lawsuit – August 2010

Chisholm v. Hood is a class action lawsuit filed by the Advocacy Center in 1997 to make Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) live up to its obligation to arrange for necessary services under regular Medicaid to children on the “NOW” (formerly the MR/DD Waiver) waiting list or “registry.”

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