HJBR May/Jun 2026

34 MAY / JUN 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs In the most recent reporting period, well-child visits increased by approximately 9 percentage points, measured against 2022 benchmarks, more than any other Medicaid health plan in the state. Additionally, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Louisiana Healthcare Connections members under the age of 1 achieved nearly 100% compliance for receiv- ing all recommended well-child visits. Utilization rates remained above national averages across all age groups. “By strengthening provider partnerships, reduc- ing barriers for families, and meeting parents where they are — whether through community events, digital outreach, or incentive programs — we are seeing meaningful improvements in children’s health outcomes across the state,”said Dana Lawson, DNP, Louisiana Healthcare Con- nections’ senior vice president of population health and clinical operations. Several key initiatives contributed to the dra- matic increases: • Strong provider relationships with pediatri- cians and obstetricians statewide, built over years of collaboration. • Incentive programs offering small rewards to both members and providers to encourage completion of recommended checkups. • Fluoride varnish integration, promoted through education and certification efforts, ensures preventive dental care is available during well-child visits. • Community outreach events at Feder- ally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Head Start locations. • Targeted member communications, includ- ing personalized reminder emails for well- child visits that averaged nearly 60% open rates, along with text messaging campaigns. • Louisiana-based social media influencer partnerships to encourage well-child visits, generating more than 500,000 impressions. By combining community-based engagement, provider collaboration, and data-driven out- reach strategies, Louisiana Healthcare Connec- tions continues to remove barriers to preventive care while improving health outcomes for children across Louisiana. n diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other diet-related health issues among Lou- isianans while enabling families to make health- ier choices. Restricted items include: • Soft drinks: Carbonated, nonalcoholic bev- erages that contain high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. Flavored car- bonated water, milk, or milk substitutes, or drinks with cane sugar, monk fruit sweet- eners, other natural sweeteners, or greater than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume are not included in the restrictions. • Energy drinks: Beverages with added stimu- lants (e.g., caffeine, guarana, taurine), often labeled as enhancing energy, alertness, or performance. • Candy: Sugary preparations with choco- late, fruit, or nuts (bars, drops, or pieces), including candy that contains flour. Pro- tein bars, granola bars, or baking ingredi- ents like chocolate chips or sprinkles are not included in the restrictions. FranciscanMissionaries of Our Lady University Inaugurates Fifth President Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University inaugurated David M. Bellar, PhD, as its fifth president. The board of trustees announced Bellar’s appointment following a national search that drew approximately 40 candidates. Eight semifinalists were selected, followed by three finalists. Bellar assumed the presidency July 14, 2025. Bellar joins FranU from the University of West Florida, where he served as dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. During his ten- ure, he secured a $6.68 million grant to enhance health education facilities, obtained scholarship funding and hospital space for immersive learning experiences, helped improve NCLEX pass rates to 98% in the School of Nursing, established the institution’s first Staff Council, supported partner- ships with two major hospital systems for clinical placement expansion, and developed a virtual cadaver laboratory to strengthen anatomy and physiology instruction. Bellar earned a doctorate in exercise physiology from Kent State University, a master’s degree in secondary education from John Carroll Univer- sity, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and life science chemistry from John Carroll University. Heather Leschinsky Named Healthy Blue Louisiana President and CEO Heather Leschinsky has been named president and CEO of Healthy Blue Louisiana. She oversees all aspects of the health plan, which serves Medicaid members statewide. Leschinsky brings more than two decades of experience in Medicaid policy, public-sector administration, and managed care leadership to the position. She previously served as chief operating officer for Healthy Blue Louisiana, where she oversaw day-to-day operations and ensured compliance with regulatory and contractual standards. Prior to joining Healthy Blue Louisiana, Leschinsky held senior leadership roles within the Nebraska Medicaid agency, where she led the design and implementation of managed care delivery systems, including large-scale transformations affecting long-term services and supports, behavioral health and home- and community-based services. Louisiana Healthcare Connections Exceeds State and National Benchmarks forWell-Child Visits Louisiana Healthcare Connections has sur- passed both state and national benchmarks for well-child visits among its Medicaid members, achieving significant improvements in preven- tive care utilization and setting a new standard for managed care plans across Louisiana. Well-child visits are essential for monitoring a child’s physical, emotional, and social devel- opment, allowing for early detection of poten- tial health issues. Well-child visits help ensure a healthy start for Louisiana’s children. Serving approximately 350,000 members state- wide — nearly 27% of Louisiana’s Medicaid man- aged care population — including 208,000 mem- bers under the age of 21, Louisiana Healthcare Connections reported significant gains in preven- tive pediatric care across all age groups.