Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-05-22

Duration: 00:57:51

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Health Care | MEDICAID | HEALTH INSURANCE | United States. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Scott, Robert Travis Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Nevers, Ben Interviewee
• Kliebert, Kathy Interviewee
• Matessino, John Interviewee
• Rozeman, Phillip Interviewee
• Savoie, Bobby Speaker
• Lewis, Marcus Speaker
• Miller, Bettsie Speaker
• Matheis, Cheryl Speaker
• Stitch, Nancy Speaker
• Hughes, Ernie Speaker
• Adams, Sandra Speaker
• George, Jeanne Speaker
• Williams, Earl Speaker
• Schaffer, Ariane Speaker
• Pursnell, Allan Speaker
• Stitch, Paul Speaker
• Miller, Ben Speaker
• Johnson, Linda Speaker
• Hatfield, Brenda Speaker
• Ruff, Joan Panelist
• Lynch, Calder Panelist
• DeSalvo, Karen Panelist
• Tanner, Michael Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from May 22, 2013, features Robert Travis Scott leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on whether Louisiana should accept the Medicaid expansion available through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: State Senator Ben Nevers; Secretary Kathy Kliebert of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH); John Matessino of the Louisiana Hospital Association; and Dr. Phillip Rozeman of the Shreveport Medical Society. The audience members then discuss their views on the state accepting Medicaid expansion. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Joan Ruff, a member of the AARP National Policy Council; Calder Lynch, a policy director at DHH; Dr. Karen DeSalvo, the Health Commissioner of New Orleans; and Michael Tanner, a senior fellow with the Cato Institute. They discuss: their positions on Medicaid expansion; whether the state has other options; helping people with serious health conditions; DHH’s plan for providing access to health care for uninsured residents; the possibility of large numbers of people leaving their private insurance if Medicaid expansion is accepted; the Arkansas model; the morality of serving the uninsured and the poor; and the federal funding for Medicaid expansion. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Robert Travis Scott