Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-11-09

Duration: 00:08:09

Subjects: Health Care | Health care reform | Louisiana State University System | Hospitals | Public-private partnerships | Opelka, Frank | Greenstein, Bruce

Contributors:

• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Producer
• LaFleur, Donna Editor
• Opelka, Frank Interviewee
• Greenstein, Bruce Interviewee
• Perkowski, Paul Interviewee

This segment from the November 9, 2012, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Shauna Sanford’s report on the reorganization of Louisiana’s health care system. Sanford reports that the federal government cut $859 million from the state’s Medicaid budget and that the Louisiana State University (LSU) System has announced a reduction of beds at seven LSU hospitals in south Louisiana. Sanford interviews Dr. Frank Opelka of the LSU Health System and Secretary Bruce Greenstein of the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). They discuss: the public-private partnership between Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and the Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge; the status of additional public-private partnerships around the state; the impact of the reorganization on patient’s access to health care and the training of medical school students; and the lay-off of 1,500 employees from the LSU Health System. Sanford also interviews Dr. Paul Perkowski of the Louisiana State Medical Society, who expresses his concerns over the public-private partnerships. Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford