At the podium: State Rep. John Schroder, a candidate for state treasurer, is the guest speaker at the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge’s noon luncheon today at Café Américain, 7521 Jefferson Hwy. Business owners and the public are invited to attend the luncheon. The cost is $19.50. Schroder, a Republican businessman from Covington, will discuss the upcoming legislative session convening April 10, the state budget and his candidacy for the treasurer’s office. Other candidates in the race are state Rep. Julie Stokes of Kenner and state Sen. Neil Riser of Columbus, both Republicans. The election to replace former state Treasurer John Kennedy is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Improper claims: A new audit says Louisiana’s health department and its dental benefits program administrator paid $6.4 million for dental claims that violated the Medicaid program’s rules. The Associated Press reports the audit from Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office says the improper payments occurred between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2016. Auditors say more than 107,000 improper claims for dental benefits were paid. Examples included payments for exams for people who weren’t eligible and for claimants who didn’t get prior authorization for services. Purpera’s office says another $3.4 million in dental services paid through Louisiana’s Medicaid program during the period were possibly improper. The health department says it’s updating its dental services handbook and working with its program administrator to ensure restrictions are clearly explained. The agency says it will seek payment recoupment “where appropriate.”
Drive safe: Federal and state transportation officials will hold a press conference on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol at 1 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the importance of driving safely through work zones. The news conference comes ahead of Work Zone Awareness Week, which takes place from April 3-7. The week is observed every spring to bring attention to the worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. In observance of the week, state Department of Transportation and Development officials will assemble a cone memorial on the front lawn of the DOTD headquarters to remember the 700 fatalities that occurred in work zones nationwide in 2015. Louisiana had five work zone deaths during the year.
