The number of primary care providers in Louisiana has increased steadily over the past seven years, and Louisianans are more likely than people in other states to be connected to a personal doctor. That’s according to new data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Margaret Delaney reports that there were 264.3 primary care providers per 1,000 people in Louisiana in 2024 – up from 183.9 per 1,000 in 2018:
Over the last seven years, from 2018 to 2024, this ratio has increased steadily, slowly closing (the) gap in primary care provider rates compared to national averages. Not only is the primary care provider ratio trending upward in Louisiana, 86% of adults in the state report having a personal doctor or health care provider — that’s higher than the national average at 84%.
The article doesn’t say this, but the uptick is almost certainly related to Louisiana’s decision to expand Medicaid eligibility to low-income, working-age adults starting in 2016. The states with the highest rate of primary care providers are those with low numbers of uninsured residents, while states at the bottom are ones that did not expand Medicaid and have high numbers of uninsured residents.
Louisiana doubles capacity of domestic violence shelters
Domestic violence shelters in Louisiana have been able to double their capacity in recent years because of increased state funding. The Louisiana Illuminator’s Julie O’Donoghue reports on how the dollars are being used:
The shelters went from offering 335 beds statewide in 2021 to 663 beds in 2025. Louisiana governors and legislators gave an additional $7 million per year, starting July 1, 2023, and continuing through June 30, 2026, which allowed for the expansion, said Mariah Stidham Wineski, executive director for the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. … With the new state funding, advocates opened five shelters and 11 outreach offices for day services in rural parishes. They also expanded seven existing shelters, six child advocacy centers and six legal advocacy offices for victims.
The increased financial commitment for victims of domestic violence is crucial for Louisiana:
Louisiana has ranked in the top five states for homicides between intimate partners since 1997, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. One out of 100 Louisiana residents – approximately 45,000 people – had a spouse or dating partner threaten them with a firearm in the past year, Wineski said. There were 181 deaths in Louisiana that were the result of intimate partner violence between 2020 and 2022, according to a state health department report. More than 65% of the victims were women, and three-quarters of the deaths were caused by a firearm.
Lower prison call rates postponed
The Federal Communications Commission has postponed a ruling that capped the high costs of phone and video calls from jails and prisons. The ruling, which the FCC issued last year, was challenged by Louisiana officials in February. The Lens’ Bernard Smith reports on how call rates were increased for New Orleans jails after the FCC’s decision:
Soon, the Orleans Justice Center tripled its phone rates, through a new contract between SmartComm and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office that changed rates from six to 16 cents a minute, with eight cents of that going to the budget-strapped jail as commission. Video calls went up to 25 cents a minute, with 10 cents of that paid as commission. OPSO also continued a routine begun during the COVID epidemic: every incarcerated person receives one free, 15-minute call per day, and one free 20-minute video visit per week, a sheriff’s spokesman said.
Communication with an incarcerated family member is crucial to maintaining strong relationships, but is often out of reach due to high costs:
“On an emotional level, it feels dehumanizing,” [Dominque Jones-Johnson] said. “Families are put in the position of choosing between groceries, rent, and staying connected with a loved one.” For some children growing up in households with an incarcerated parent, the money is stretched too thin for calls. Sometimes, then, relationships fall apart because of a lack of communication, Johnson-Jones said.
Absenteeism rate dips, but still above pre-pandemic levels
The number of Louisiana students who were chronically absent from school declined slightly – from 25% to 23% – during the 2024-2025 school year. However, the state’s absenteeism rate is still well above pre-pandemic levels. Verite News’ Safura Syed explains the negative effects of missing school:
When a child misses school, they don’t just fall behind on instructional material, but also on developing relationships with peers and teachers. Studies show that absenteeism has detrimental long- and short-term effects on social and educational outcomes for children. Students who are chronically absent in high school are more likely to drop out, get suspended or get involved with the juvenile justice system, said NOLA Public Schools superintendent Fateama Fulmore during an August press conference on absenteeism. Fulmore said the district’s efforts to target chronic absenteeism will help close achievement gaps for vulnerable students.
State and national leaders have identified policies that can increase school attendance:
A 2024 analysis of chronic absenteeism data across the country also suggested that schoolwide cultural support strategies, free meals, health care and access to social services could help boost attendance. Recommendations released by a Louisiana task force last year that focused mostly on monitoring, data collection and standardization for parent forms are “basic steps,” said Hedy Chang, the founder and executive director of Attendance Works, an organization that aims to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Number of the Day
18.54% – Combined state and local tax rate on wireless services in Louisiana, which ranks 6th nationally. (Source: Tax Foundation)