Louisiana Governor-Elect Health Care Transition Committee Meets To Discuss Proposals

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health;  Primary Care / General Practice;  Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 22 Nov 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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The 10-member health transition committee for Louisiana Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal (R) on Monday in Shreveport, La., met to discuss proposals to expand health insurance to more state residents, as well as plans to address a shortage of physicians and nurses and improve preventive and primary care, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. Almost one-quarter of non-elderly state residents lack health insurance.

Committee Chair Daniel Johnson said the members must determine whether an expansion of health insurance to all residents will reduce health care prices. According to Bob Breaux, a Louisiana Health Alliance official, a requirement that state residents with annual incomes higher than a certain level obtain health insurance or face a financial penalty could help increase the number of residents with coverage and reduce costs. Sandy Lutz of PricewaterhouseCoopers said that an expansion of health insurance to all residents initially would increase costs but later would equalize costs. Dennis Smith of CMS said that the state should redistribute $1 billion in federal Medicaid funds to expand health insurance to more residents without coverage. The committee next will meet on Dec. 7 at Jindal transition headquarters at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate, 11/20).

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