La. health-care outline drawn

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 15, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Jindal administration on Friday publicly aired the outline of a proposed restructuring of the state’s health-care system for the poor — calling it the starting point for discussion.

Gov. Bobby Jindal and state Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine presided over a nearly two-hour news conference, given in the wake of mounting public records requests seeking documents related to the plan.

The administration has been involved in behind-the-scenes negotiations with federal officials for months. The state plans to seek a waiver, which is special federal permission to go outside normal rules governing Medicaid.

The proposal — called “Louisiana Health First” — involves restructuring spending in the state’s $7 billion Medicaid program to provide care through private managed-care networks.

Medicaid is the government health insurance program for the poor, elderly and disabled.

A quarter of Louisiana’s 4.3 million residents are Medicaid recipients.

Medical groups and physician associations have filed public records requests seeking information about the proposal.

Many details remain to be decided on the plan to move Louisiana’s traditional system to a more insurance-based model for care delivery, Jindal said.

Private sector health-care officials interests who were invited to speak by the administration underscored the need to be part of the development efforts.

“We cannot have an effective system unless we have all the players at the table,” said John Finan, head of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.

Levine said the waiver is only the beginning of the process. “All of this requires new law,” said Levine. “At the end of the day the Legislature and the governor decide what policy is.”

Jindal’s proposal affects the way care is delivered to children and some adults enrolled in Medicaid. It expands health insurance to more of Louisiana’s uninsured. Pilot projects are planned in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles and Shreveport.

The administration wants to move away from the Medicaid “fee for services” system, in which physicians, hospitals and others file claims with state government for reimbursement. According to the administration, that system is leading to poor health and high cost.