Thousands of Louisiana residents who don’t have health care coverage will start getting no-cost insurance on Friday when the state’s new Medicaid expansion program takes effect.But several of the broad impacts — on populations that range from convicts serving time in prison to poor mothers who typically would lose coverage shortly after their children are born — have drawn less attention as Louisiana gears up to become the 31st state in the country and first Deep South state to embrace one of the key provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act.The decision to expand Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act has been nationally lauded and heavily promoted within the state’s borders.
“This is going to be a new day,” Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee said.For months, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration has touted expansion, which is an option for states through the ACA, …
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