Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2007-10-13

Duration: 00:57:00

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Health Care | HEALTH INSURANCE | Health care reform

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Gautreaux, Kevin Associate Producer
• Davidge, Bob Interviewee
• Erwin, Barry Interviewee
• Butler, Michael Keith Interviewee
• Rozeman, Philip Interviewee
• Matessino, John Interviewee
• Cerise, Fred Panelist
• Erwin, Barry Panelist
• Townsend, Roxane A. Panelist
• Hood, David Panelist

This live “By the People” special from October 13, 2007, features Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on health care reform in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Bob Davidge, the CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge; Barry Erwin, the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana; Dr. Michael Keith Butler, the acting CEO of the LSU Healthcare Services Division; Dr. Philip Rozeman of Blueprint Louisiana; and John A. Matessino, the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association. A panel of experts then answers questions from the audience. The panelists are: Dr. Fred Cerise, the CEO of the LSU Health Services Division; Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana; Dr. Roxane A. Townsend, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; and David Hood, a health consultant for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. They discuss: improving preventive care in order to reduce emergency room visits; access to health care; providing access to basic primary care; the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP); reducing bureaucracy; reducing health care costs; the health care system’s dependence on the government in Louisiana; cutting administrative costs; expanding school-based health centers; the possibility of universal health care coverage in Louisiana; and improving the unhealthy lifestyles in Louisiana.