medicaid

State Lawmakers Weigh Medicaid Options

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:33:00 +0000

A House bill that aims to secure state health care spending passed out of the Senate Finance committee yesterday.

The measure would create the "Hospital Stabilization Fund," which would utilize some hospital profits to draw down more federal dollars to help with uninsured patients.

Medicaid Expansion Clears State House Committee

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:00 +0000

With a one-vote margin, a bill that would force Louisiana to accept federal Medicaid Expansion advanced through the House Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday.

Governor Bobby Jindal has opposed the Expansion, claiming it would be too expensive and that the federal program doesn’t meet Louisiana’s needs.

Interviews: Pelican Institute's Kevin Kane, New EBR Libraries Head Spencer Watts

editor — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:00 +0000

Kevin Kane, President of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, talks about Governor's Jindal's position on Medicaid expansion.

Spencer Watts, the new head of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System.

Medicaid Expansion, Privitization Could Work Together

Kelly Connelly — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:16:00 +0000

The state may need to accept the federal Medicaid Expansion to fund LSU hospitals under the new public/private partnerships.

That’s according to Steve Spires, with the Louisiana Budget Project, an advocacy group that focuses on the effects of policy changes to low- and middle-income households.

For or Against: Votes in the Medicaid Expansion Debate

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:32:00 +0000

Lawmakers face an onslaught of decisions every day at the capitol: vote up or down, pass this amendment, defer that bill... A few key players in this week's Medicaid expansion debate explain why they voted the way they did.

State Legislature Shelves Medicaid Expansion

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:13:00 +0000

The legislature technically decided Wednesday to put off accepting federal funding for health care expansion, which would include more low-income individuals under Medicaid. A series of bills were voluntarily deferred, both in the House and Senate, to be taken up next week. A bill by Rep. Barbara Norton was involuntarily deferred - that’s typically a death sentence for a bill.
The representatives that voted to shelve Norton’s bill did so because they’re unsure of what will happen if they accept the money - despite that the Legislative Fiscal Office testifying that the program would initially save the state money.

Report: La. Could Save With Medicaid Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:25:00 +0000
The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates Louisiana could save up to $554.9 million over five years and between $185.2 million to almost $511 million over 10 years by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Report Says Thousands Of Louisianans Could Qualify For Insurance Subsidies

Kate Archer Kent — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:01:00 +0000
A new report estimates that nearly 353,000 Louisianans will be eligible for federal subsidies to offset the cost of a health insurance premium, making coverage affordable for lower-income families when the new health care law takes effect next year. But the head of the Louisiana Consumer Healthcare Coalition finds that many residents don’t understand how these "premium tax credits" work.

Jindal Still Opposing Medicaid Expansion, Awaiting Details of Arkansas-Obamacare Deal

Ashley Westerman — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:53:00 +0000
Gov. Bobby Jindal still opposes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, despite the federal government having recently approved some flexibility on the issue.

Failure To Expand Medicaid To Directly Effect Low-To-Moderate Income New Orleans Residents

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:43:00 +0000
Gov. Bobby Jindal has remained steadfast thus far in his opposition to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act saying it’s too expensive and that Medicaid is an outdated, inflexible program.
Not expanding Medicaid it will have a direct effect on low-to-moderate income New Orleanians.