Louisiana Department of HealthGovernment

The Louisiana Department of Health is a cabinet-level executive agency responsible for protecting and promoting the health and well-being of the residents of Louisiana. It oversees public health initiatives, behavioral health programs, licensing of healthcare facilities, and the administration of the state's Medicaid program. The department traces its lineage to the creation of the Louisiana State Board of Health in 1855, recognized as the first permanent state public health agency in the United States, established largely in response to yellow fever epidemics.