Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1997-01-31

Duration: 00:17:23

Subjects: Health Care | MEDICAID | SALES TAX | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Foster, Mike Interviewee
• Dixon, James Interviewee
• Netherland, Ann Interviewee
• Stevens, Vernon, Jr. Interviewee
• Brown, Jim Interviewee
• Jindal, Bobby Interviewee

This segment from the January 31, 1997, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Arcie Chapa’s report on the future of public health care in Louisiana, including the looming $500 million budget shortfall for the Medicaid program if the one-cent sales tax on food and utilities is not renewed. She visits a health care conference in Baton Rouge sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown and interviews: Governor Mike Foster; James Dixon, Louisiana Health Association; Ann Netherland, hospital administrator; Vernon Stevens, Jr., hospital administrator; and Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown. Host Robert Collins then conducts an in-studio interview with Secretary Bobby Jindal of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. He discusses: the status of federal Medicaid funding; the need for the renewal of the one-cent sales tax; the populations served by Medicaid; the contingency plan if the sales tax is not renewed; and the importance of community health clinics. This segment is a part of the “A Cure for Louisiana” series.