DHH hosts meetings for residents to learn about expanded Medicaid program

FROM HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. ADRIANNA: WDSU REPORTER NATALIE HEE EXPLAINS HOW EDWARDS PLANS HOLES. I WAS STILL HAVING SEIZURES. I COULD’VE GONE HOME AND DIED. BUT THEY STILL HAD TO SEND ME HOME. REPORTER: STORM MATTHEWS REMEMBERS THE DAY WHEN SHE WENT TO A HOSPITAL AND COULDN’T GET TREATMENT. I HAVE A MACHINE CALLED A VNS. REPORTER: MATTHEWS HAS SUFFERED FROM SEIZURES HER WHOLE LIFE. AND AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER SHE SAYS THE BUDGET IS , TIGHT FOR HER AND HER TWO YOUNG BOYS. IT’S ALWAYS HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION THAT GETS CUT, BUT NEED THE MOST. CUT? REPORTER: IN FACT, AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION STATE — CUT NEARLY FROM HEALTHCARE $70 MILLION PROVIDERS, AND STATE HOSPITALS ARE STILL AT RISK FOR CLOSURES IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS IN JULY. BUT EDWARDS SAYS THE MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM WILL HELP TO PLUG THAT GAP. 70% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET COVERAGE FROM EXPANSION THEY ARE WORKING THESE ARE THE WORKING POOR, THEY’RE JUST CAUGHT IN A TRAP . REPORTER: BECAUSE THE EXPANSION IS FUNDED BY FEDERAL GOVERNOR DOLLARS, EDWARDS SAYS THE STATE COULD SAVE UP TO $124 MILLION NEXT YEAR, AND HELP SOFTEN THE BLOW OF THE BUDGET CUTS. AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, NOT ONLY RESULTS IN BETTER INDIVIDUAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, IT ALSO HELPS TO GROW A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE.

JULY 1 HE WANTS TO HAVE GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS IN MORE PEOPLE’S HAND SO ADULTS WHO MAKE UP TO $16,242 A YEAR AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR UP TO $33,465 FOR A FAMILY OF 4 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID EDWARDS SAYS EXPANDING THE MEDICAID PROGRAM WILL ALSO HELP OUR STATE’S BUDGET CRISIS AND KEEP MORE FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS HERE AT HOME. HE EXPECTS THIS MOVE TO BENEFIT PROVIDERS IN THE STATE BECAUSE UNINSURED PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR TREATMEN EMERGENCY ROOMS WILL BE CLOSED IN LOUISIANA BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PAYMENT WE DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEND OUR FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS T WASHINGTON TO THEN BE GIVEN TO 30 OTHER STATES TO HELP THEIR PEOPLE WHO NEED ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE WHILE OURS GO WITHOUT. CASEY: THE GOVERNOR’S ACTION DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION. AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, IS CONDEMNING MEDICAID EXPANSION, SAYING IT’S WRONG FOR LOUISIANA. THE STATE DIRECTOR SAYS STATES FACING MASSIVE COST OVERRUNS DUE TO AN UNDERESTIMATION OF THE BURDEN OF THE PROGRAM DURING THE BUDGETING PROCES WE ARE DEALING WITH A $1.9 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT AND THIS IS SIMPLY NOT A PLAN WE CAN AFFORD. HOWEVER FAMILIES USA COMMENDS EDWARDS AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL THE NON-PROFIT’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THE STATE OF MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THE PAST, AND THE EXPANSION HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE’S HOSPITALS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY IF THE PARTIES ALL WORK TOGETHER, GOVERNOR EDWARDS’ WILL BE A BIG WIN FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOUISIANANS AND THE LOUISIANA ECONOMY. IT’S UNCLEAR WHETHER LOUISIANA’S REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE WILL TRY TO THROW UP ROADBLOCKS TO