Louisiana And Mississippi Were Overwhelmed By COVID-19 Cases. Then Ida Struck

Louisiana was already battling its fourth coronavirus surge — and worst one yet — when Ida struck. Here’s what that means for hospitals, patients and those seeking shelter (and coronavirus tests):There were 2,450 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who noted that hospitalizations decreased 20% over the previous 10 days but still remained higher than at any point during the pandemic. NPR, Read More.

As Gulf South lawmakers fight over Medicaid, new moms weigh in: ‘Safety nets do save lives’
Need an organ transplant in Mississippi? You may be out of luck thanks to an insurance dispute.

One day in early 2020, a Madison man noticed blood in his mouth. His symptoms escalated, and by the end of that week, he was in the intensive care unit at Merit Health Madison. When he woke up from a procedure, the gastroenterologist told him his liver was in bad shape.He had end-stage liver disease, and the only treatment option was a liver transplant. The next two years consisted of a double hip replacement, numerous procedures on his esophagus and visits with an array of specialists, including psychologists. MS Today, Read More.