Louisiana Department of Health

What Louisiana Department of Health does

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is the primary state health authority of Louisiana, responsible for protecting and promoting the health and wellness of all state residents. It administers a broad portfolio including Medicaid (delivered via the Healthy Louisiana managed care program covering physical health, behavioral health, and long-term services and supports), SNAP and WIC nutrition assistance (serving roughly 61,819 WIC families monthly and hundreds of thousands of SNAP recipients), behavioral health services (including the 988 mental health crisis helpline and the Coordinated System of Care), immunization programs, and population health data systems such as the Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (LAHIDD) and the LINKS immunization registry.

LDH also operates an extensive regulatory machinery, issuing permits and conducting approximately 100,000 inspections per year across nearly 34,000 food establishments, 6,945 buildings and premises, 475,299 onsite wastewater systems, and 300-plus wholesale seafood processors. It licenses EMS providers and vehicles, regulates Louisiana's medical marijuana program (about 150,000 patients as of February 2026) and consumable hemp products, and runs infrastructure funding programs such as the $29.1 million (FY 2024) Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund and the $20 million (2026) Rural Tech Catalyst Fund. The department is headquartered in Baton Rouge (628 N. 4th Street), with field offices and Parish Health Units covering all 64 Louisiana parishes plus a milk testing lab in Amite.

The agency's revenue model is fundamentally an intergovernmental flow: the largest stream is federal Medicaid pass-through funding, followed by federal grants (e.g., the Rural Health Transformation Program), state appropriations, and a modest fee-based component from permits, plan reviews ($100 standard / $1,000 expedited), and EMS licensing ($150 base plus $75 per vehicle). Services to residents are provided at no direct charge; pricing applies primarily to regulated businesses. LDH sells nothing commercially and does not develop proprietary technology products, instead operating standard government data systems and partnering with external entities such as Walmart (Louisiana Carrot Initiative, April 2025), Phenomune (at-home immune profiling, June 2026), and Louisiana Innovation (Rural Tech Catalyst Fund, May 2026).

Name

Louisiana Department of Health

Legal name

Louisiana Department of Health

Website

https://ldh.la.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Louisiana Department of Health is a state government agency that administers Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, behavioral health services, immunizations, and food/water safety regulation for Louisiana residents across all 64 parishes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Administration

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (923120), Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial/Regional Health Departments (HLAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Health Department & Public Health Administration (BPAIABAH), Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH), Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Administration (BPAIAJAJ), Maternal, Child & Family Health Departments (HLAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Medicaid administration
• Nutrition assistance programs
• Behavioral health services
• Health regulatory oversight

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Medicaid Funding: The largest revenue stream for LDH comes from federal Medicaid funding passed through to the state, administered via the Healthy Louisiana managed care program covering physical health, behavioral health, and long-term services.
2. Federal Rural Health Transformation Program: LDH administers the $20 million Rural Tech Catalyst Fund, funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which provides milestone-based grants to healthtech startups addressing rural healthcare gaps.
3. SNAP Administration: LDH administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), providing nutrition assistance to families, with benefits distributed through the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. The department also administers related programs including SUN Bucks, DSNAP, and the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP).
4. WIC Program Administration: LDH operates the Louisiana WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) nutrition program, serving approximately 61,819 families per month with nutritious food benefits including fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, and beans.
5. Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund: LDH's Bureau of Engineering Services manages the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund (DWRLF), providing funding for water system infrastructure upgrades, including principal forgiveness (grants) and no-interest loans for eligible projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Louisiana Department of Health administers Louisiana's public health programs and regulatory oversight, including Medicaid managed care (Healthy Louisiana), SNAP and WIC nutrition assistance, behavioral health services (including the 988 crisis helpline), immunization programs, and regulatory programs for food safety, commercial seafood, cannabis, water systems, and onsite wastewater. It also licenses EMS providers, maintains health data systems such as LAHIDD, and supports rural healthcare through grant programs like the $20 million Rural Tech Catalyst Fund.

Product overview

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is a state government agency that does not offer commercial technology products. Instead, it administers a portfolio of public health programs and services including: Medicaid managed care through Healthy Louisiana; nutrition assistance programs (SNAP and WIC); behavioral health services including the 988 crisis helpline; immunization programs; and regulatory programs for food safety, commercial seafood, and cannabis. LDH also operates health data systems including the Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (LAHIDD) and provides quality improvement resources like the Care Coordination Toolkit for healthcare providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medicaid Program (Healthy Louisiana) Louisiana's Medicaid program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities through the Healthy Louisiana managed care program, including LaCHIP, LaMOMS, and Medicaid Expansion coverage options.
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutrition benefits through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) to supplement eligible low-income families' food budgets. Includes related programs such as SUN Bucks, DSNAP, and FITAP.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program Provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and supplemental foods to approximately 61,819 families per month, including pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five. Benefits include fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, and beans.
• Behavioral Health Services Comprehensive mental health and substance use services including the 988 crisis helpline, mental health rehabilitation, Coordinated System of Care (CSoC), suicide prevention programs, and opioid/substance abuse treatment for Louisiana residents.
• 988 Louisiana Crisis Helpline 24/7 crisis support service available by call, text, or online chat connecting individuals to trained specialists for mental health emergencies and emotional support.
• Immunization Program Programs for adult and childhood immunizations including vaccine distribution through Vaccines for Children (VFC), Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP), and the state immunization registry LINKS.
• Retail Food Program Regulatory program preventing foodborne disease outbreaks through consultation, monitoring, permit issuance, and regulation of nearly 34,000 food establishments including restaurants, grocery stores, meat markets, seafood markets, bakeries, and mobile vendors. Performs 100,000 inspections per year.
• Commercial Seafood Program Regulatory and enforcement program for all seafood products produced and processed in Louisiana, ensuring compliance with the Louisiana Sanitary Code and National Shellfish Sanitation Program standards. Covers 300+ permitted wholesale seafood processors/distributors.
• Cannabis Program Regulatory program responsible for registering consumable hemp products and regulating Louisiana's medical marijuana program (assumed regulatory authority August 1, 2022 per Act 491 and Act 492), which serves approximately 150,000 patients.
• EMS Licensing Program Licensing and regulatory oversight of EMS providers, practitioners, and vehicles through the Bureau of EMS, covering both ground and air ambulance services. Initial license $150 base fee plus $75 per vehicle; annual renewal $100 base fee plus $75 per vehicle.
• Onsite Wastewater Program Program managing 475,299 permitted onsite wastewater treatment systems treating approximately 54.75 billion gallons of wastewater per year, administered by the Onsite Wastewater Program within the Bureau of Sanitarian Services.
• Rural Tech Catalyst Fund $20 million fund providing milestone-based grants capped at $3 million per company to healthtech startups addressing rural healthcare gaps in Louisiana. Funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and administered by Louisiana Innovation on behalf of LDH.
• At-Home Immune Profiling Program Free statewide at-home immune profiling initiative distributing up to 250,000 test kits to Louisiana residents. Kits use bitter taste receptor (T2R) phenotypes to assess innate upper respiratory defense capabilities against flu, COVID-19, and bronchitis, delivering results through a HIPAA-compliant mobile app.
• Louisiana Carrot Initiative SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program where SNAP recipients earn a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fruits and vegetables at Walmart stores, with potential up to $25 in monthly bonuses. Generated more than $1.6 million in bonus benefits.
• Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (LAHIDD) A database system collecting inpatient hospital data from licensed Louisiana hospitals for program evaluations, public health interventions, provider performance studies, and epidemiologic research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61,819 families served with WIC food benefits monthly
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PhenomunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026The Louisiana Department of Health partnered with biotechnology company Phenomune to launch a free statewide at-home immune profiling initiative distributing up to 250,000 test kits to residents. The kits use bitter taste receptor (T2R) phenotypes to assess individuals' innate upper respiratory defense capabilities against flu, COVID-19, and bronchitis, delivering results through a HIPAA-compliant mobile app. The program is backed by Governor Jeff Landry and aims to reduce healthcare system strain and lower Medicaid costs.
• Louisiana InnovationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2026Louisiana Innovation administers the $20 million Rural Tech Catalyst Fund on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Health. The fund supports healthtech startups addressing gaps in rural healthcare, with milestone-based grants capped at $3 million per company, funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
• WalmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2025Walmart has expanded the Louisiana Carrot Initiative to all its Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market stores across Louisiana, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health. Under the program, SNAP recipients earn a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fruits and vegetables, with potential to receive up to $25 in monthly bonuses. The initiative launched in April 2025 and has generated more than $1.6 million in bonus benefits for Louisiana SNAP recipients.
• Magellan of LouisianacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMagellan of Louisiana serves as the managed care organization handling Coordinated System of Care (CSoC) referrals for children and youth with special health care needs. Referrals are made through Magellan to conduct CANS brief assessments and connect families with Wraparound Agencies for comprehensive assessment and services.
• Alliant HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliant Health is listed as a Louisiana Partner in Healthcare-Associated Infections prevention efforts, working alongside LDH to improve healthcare quality and infection prevention across the state.
• Louisiana Hospital AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Louisiana Hospital Association is listed as a Louisiana Partner in HAI prevention efforts, collaborating with LDH on healthcare quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Louisiana Nursing Home AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Louisiana Nursing Home Association is listed as a Louisiana Partner in HAI prevention efforts, working with LDH on infection control and antibiotic resistance initiatives in nursing home settings.
• VizientminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVizient is listed as a Louisiana Partner in HAI prevention, providing data and quality improvement support in collaboration with LDH's healthcare-associated infections program.
• APIC of Greater New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPIC of Greater New Orleans is listed as a Louisiana Partner in HAI prevention efforts, contributing infection control expertise in partnership with LDH.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Department of State Health Services: Texas's state health agency administers comparable Medicaid (managed care), public health programs, regulatory inspections, and vital records — a direct functional peer with similar rural-urban service delivery challenges.
• Florida Department of Health: Florida's state health agency oversees comparable county-level health department networks, public health regulation, immunization registries, and Medicaid program administration — closely parallel to LDH's structure.
• Georgia Department of Public Health: Georgia's state public health agency operates a comparable district/county health unit model, administers Medicaid public health components, and runs WIC and food safety programs — directly analogous to LDH.
• New York State Department of Health: New York's state health agency administers Medicaid, WIC-equivalent nutrition programs, public health regulation, and a statewide county health office network — a direct functional and structural peer.
• California Department of Public Health: California's state public health agency with comparable regulatory authority over food safety, healthcare facilities, vital records, and public health programs — the largest direct state-level peer to LDH.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: North Carolina's combined health and human services agency administers Medicaid, public health, nutrition programs, and regulatory oversight with a comparable county-level delivery network.

Broad incumbents

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Federal public health agency that funds and sets standards for state health departments like LDH; comparable in disease surveillance, immunization registries, and public health data infrastructure.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) — Food and Nutrition Service: Federal agency that funds SNAP, WIC, and related nutrition programs administered by LDH; the upstream federal authority governing a major share of LDH's nutrition program operations.

Regional players

• Alabama Department of Public Health: Alabama's state health agency is a close regional peer operating a county health department network with similar rural health, WIC, and food-safety mandates — though serving a different state.
• Mississippi State Department of Health: Mississippi's state health agency is a regional peer with similar rural health access challenges, comparable WIC/SNAP administration, and parallel public health regulatory scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LADeptHealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Louisiana Department of Health