A bill to require insurance companies to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients has been filed for the upcoming session. Brooke Thorington has more.
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LSU says its women’s national basketball team will go to the White House once they receive an invitation, despite some hurt feelings from a statement made by First Lady Jill Biden. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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It’s Easter weekend and while we’ll admit they are awfully cute, getting a baby chick and or bunny for a pet isn’t the best idea. Humane Society of Louisiana director Jeff Dorson says shelters and veterinarians see an influx of rabbits and chicks after the holiday that are surrendered and in poor health.
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In many cases, Dorson says state wildlife has to retrieve them because owners abandon them in the wild and they are unable to fend for themselves.
Dorson says whenever you give a child an animal and you expect them to care for it, he says it doesn’t end well because children forget to feed them…
Cut 4 (12) “…please reconsider.”
Instead of a live animal for Easter, Dorson says get a stuffed animal instead, it costs considerably less in the long run and it’s better for the chicks and bunnies.
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In some areas, it’s illegal to sell them and for photographers to use them as props unless they are a licensed animal caregiver. Dorson says having live animals as props for a photo can endanger both the child and the animals.
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Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis has filed legislation to require health insurance to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile. Davis says she was surprised to learn it wasn’t always covered by some health insurance plans.
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At the request of a constituent, last year Davis presented legislation to require health insurance to pay for fertility treatment in general.
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Even though Davis’ IVF bill failed to pass last year, this bill requires coverage only for fertility preservation costs for cancer patients, and she’ll build on the legislation in the future.
Cut 8 (08) “…cancer treatment.”
The proposed law would be known as “The Medically Necessary Fertility Preservation Act.”
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The weather on Easter Sunday is expected to be much better than the rainy conditions we’re experiencing today. But in the meantime, State Climatologist Barry Keim says the rain and clouds will hang around until Saturday night.
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Keim says the chances of severe weather are very small as this front moves across the state, but we should be concerned about excessive rainfall.
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In addition to clouds and drizzle the front will bring cooler temperatures. Keim says to expect lows to dip into the 60s for the next several days.
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Keim says Sunday the rain will have moved on and to expect cloudy and cool weather for your crawfish boil or Easter egg hunt.
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A Life Extension Foundation study found Louisiana has the fourth worst outlook for life expectancy in the near future. Louisiana’s ranking is based on having the 48th best actual life expectancy at birth at 73 years and the least healthy lifestyle. Life Extension Director of Education, Dr. Michael Smith, says for two years in a row the overall average life span has declined and lifestyle is a major component.
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CDC data on life expectancy showed different lifestyle measurements – bridging diet, fitness, stress, sleep, outdoor recreation, and social connection – to forecast how life expectancy is expected to trend in all 50 states and D.C. in the years to come. Smith says Louisiana ranked low along with other southern states.
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Lack of sleep and stress are two strong factors that decrease life expectancy. Smith says Louisianans should include a combination of exercise, healthy eating, outdoor recreation, getting enough sleep, and decreasing anxiety are subtle steps to becoming healthy and increasing life expectancy.
Cut 14 (12) “…that’s critical.”
The U.S. ranks No. 40 overall in the world for life expectancy. Smith says self-care is critical in raising life expectancy numbers.