Hospitals facing fewer dollars for uninsured care

Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision against expanding the state's Medicaid program under the federal health law, combined with a provision that shrinks uninsured care dollars, could leave Louisiana hospitals with far less money to care for those not on private insurance.

Hospital leaders say the situation could leave some LSU-run public hospitals and small rural hospitals teetering on the edge of closure and give them little way to recoup money they spend to care for uninsured patients.

Louisiana Hospital Association leader John Matessino says the situation could be "double whammy" to hospitals.

The federal Affordable Care Act will cut federal dollars that states like Louisiana use to care for large numbers of uninsured, under the idea that those dollars will be less needed because more people would get insurance through Medicaid.