Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-11-27

Duration: 00:58:08

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

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Scott, Robert Travis Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Smith, Michael Interviewee
• Wilkinson, Doug Interviewee
• Bertaut, Michael Interviewee
• Amar, Renee Interviewee
• Gregory, Don Interviewee
• Echols, Michael Speaker
• Overton, John Speaker
• Pickett, Timothy Speaker
• Limbaugh, Michelle Speaker
• Harmon, Maria Speaker
• Thomhave, Kalena Speaker
• Isch, Matt Speaker
• Irvine, Betsy Speaker
• Gissel, Darryl Speaker
• Holliday, David Speaker
• Landry, Heather Speaker
• Kucharchuk, Kayla Speaker
• Painter, Kia Speaker
• Burton, Brian Panelist
• Perkowski, Paul Panelist
• Keller, Brian Panelist
• Barnes, Stephen Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from November 27, 2013, features Robert Travis Scott leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the state’s health insurance marketplace established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Michael Smith, insurance marketplace shopper; Doug Wilkinson of the Louisiana Healthcare Education Coalition; Michael Bertaut of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; Renee Amar of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); and Don Gregory of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR). The audience members then discuss their experiences with the healthcare.gov website and the impact of Obamacare on their current health plans. A panel of experts then joins the audience members to answer their questions. The panelists are: Brian Burton, the director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana; Dr. Paul Perkowski, a member of the board of directors for the Capital Area Medical Society; Brian Keller, the chief marketing officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; and Dr. Stephen Barnes, a healthcare economist at LSU. They discuss: community outreach efforts; the eligibility for people with pre-existing conditions; the impact of the new insurance exchange on physicians; the increase in health insurance competition in Louisiana; the economic impact if uninsured people decide not to purchase a health insurance plan; the individual mandate penalty; the misconceptions about Obamacare; Governor Bobby Jindal’s decision not to accept Medicaid expansion; and the impact of the new insurance marketplace on healthcare quality. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Robert Travis Scott