State lawmakers have about a month left to pass a budget for next fiscal year. The House has approved a package of bills that raises 664-million dollars that will go towards mitigating budget cuts to higher education and health care. Governor Bobby Jindal says when the session concludes, he expects lawmakers to approve legislation to offset the measures that he considers to be tax increases…

cut 11 (07) “and health care”

The House has approved legislation to raise the cigarette tax by 32-cents and reduced tax refunds or tax breaks that businesses currently enjoyed.

A bill headed to the House floor would provide free HIV tests for inmates being released from prison. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says before a person leaves a state jail for parole, they should be tested and if needed, treated as a way to help prevent AIDS from spreading further…

cut 14 (09) “think it is”

The testing for parolees would not be required under the measure.

Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General Medical Center is looking for adults diagnosed with multiple myeloma to participate in a clinical trial for patients not eligible for stem cell transplants. CCA Oncologist Sal Malad is the principle investigator and he says the trial seeks to compare the effectiveness of a combination of drugs with standard therapy…

cut 8 (07) “daratumumab”

CCA conducts these trials and studies to help improve patient care and disease prevention. For more information on this clinical trial, call Lafayette General Medical Center at 337-289-8658.