Health

Texas Medicaid Debate Complicated By Politics And Poverty

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:01:00 +0000

When the sun rises over the Rio Grande Valley, the cries of the urracas — blackbirds — perched on the tops of palm trees swell to a noisy, unavoidable cacophony. That is also the strategy, it could be said, that local officials, health care providers and frustrated valley residents are trying to use to persuade Gov.

Can Star Power Make New Orleans' Food Deserts Bloom?

editor — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Plenty of celebrities leverage their star power to raise awareness of complicated food issues. Some of the biggest names include Michelle Obama, Jamie Oliver, Prince Charles and Paul McCartney.

Down in New Orleans, actor Wendell Pierce, who stars in David Simon's Treme and, previously, The Wire, has been taking on food insecurity in low-income communities with brand new convenience stores.

Lake Officials Say Cooperative Endeavor Agreement About Education

Ashley Westerman — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center says the reasons why the hospital agreed to take over Earl K. Long charity hospital’s patient load begin with Hurricane Katrina.

OLOL Vice President of Mission Coletta Barrett said immediately post-Katrina there were 325 residents, fellows, medical students that showed up at Our Lady of the Lake looking for a place to practice. She and Vice President of Operations Stephanie Mason tell WRKF’s Ashley Westerman that from that point forward, OLOL decided to assume an active role in solidifying the pipeline of physicians for Louisiana.

Taking over EKL, they said, is a step in that direction.

Unanswered Questions Remain Weeks After Charity Hospital Closes

Ashley Westerman — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:38:09 +0000

Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge closed its doors for good last month. The cooperative endeavor agreement between the hospital, the state and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for the take-over and eventual shutdown of EKL was reached more than two years ago.

Erica Barham, Kimberly Burkett and Lauren Richard are all former Registered Nurse Supervisors in the EKL Emergency Room. Mental Health Emergency Room Extension Supervisor Amy Germain also used to work there.

They tell WRKF’s Ashley Westerman the transition was bungled and even on closing day, critical questions about how patients would get care and follow-up remained unanswered.

De-Institutionalizing Louisiana, Part Two: Demand vs. Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:00:00 +0000

In Boyce, La., St. Mary’s Residential Training School offers both residential care and educational services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

This concludes our two-part series on the state’s goal to wind down the number of individuals living in places like St. Mary’s.

Bill to Create Hospitalization Stablization Formula Passes With Few Details

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:04:37 +0000

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to try and maintain the level of funding to hospitals that take Medicaid patients.

De-Institutionalizing Louisiana, Part One: Waivers vs. Facilities

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Louisiana's efforts to move more individuals with developmental disabilities out of congregate living and back into the home with supports actually started pretty late compared to the rest of the country.

In the 1980s when other states were beginning to shut down their large, state-run facilities as part of the national de-institutionalization movement, Louisiana was still building. Only in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina forced the shutdown of the New Orleans metropolitan facility did the state start ramping up its de-institutionalizing efforts.

This is the first of a two-part series exploring the progress of that effort over the years since.

DHH Report: Could Be Savings In Medicaid Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:31:45 +0000

A new report by the state Department of Health and Hospitals shows Louisiana could save millions of dollars over the next decade by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

PAR: More Info Needed to Make Medicaid Expansion Decision for Louisiana

Ashley Westerman — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:43:35 +0000

The state legislature’s Joint Insurance Committee met Wednesday to discuss the Affordable Care Act and two crucial, yet voluntary, measures: setting up state health insurance exchanges and expanding Medicaid.

At that meeting a representative from the Public Affairs Research Council said Louisiana doesn’t have enough information to make a truly informed decision on implementing the healthcare reform law.

PAR’s Principle Health Advisor Don Gregory recently authored a study about the research done so far on the implications of expanding Medicaid in Louisiana. He says other states have worked to figure out not just the costs, but also the benefits of insuring the uninsured.

Rep. Cassidy Co-Sponsors "Defund Obamacare Act"

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:08:28 +0000

Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy has signed on to legislation that aims to defund President Obama’s health care reform law.