THE AUDIO FROM THE SPEAK OUT HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19 can be downloaded here. (The speak out starts at 3:10)
We finally have the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement! Version 1 and Version 2
We also have the Testimonies from the Civil Service Hearing that was held on Dec. 12, 2012 located Here
mportant Dates/Scheduled Events
Wednesday, January 23, 4:00pm to 6:30pm: Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge –
Alliance Candelight Vigil at the Capitol to Oppose the end of Hospice Care support for Louisiana Medicaid recipients (Candles will be provided)
The hospice community throughout the country is shocked and saddened to learn of Governor Jindal’s decision to eliminate the Louisiana Medicaid Hospice Benefit on February 1, 2013. The Alliance for the Advancement of End-of-Life Care is committed to promoting better end of life care in the state and we know the elimination of the Medicaid Hospice Benefit will mean terminally ill Medicaid patients and their families will have to face death without access to quality end of life care.
We call upon the public, family members of terminally ill patients, hospice and healthcare professionals, policy-makers and legislators to join The Alliance to save this compassionate and cost savings benefit. We are committed to making sure that hospice is available to the every citizens of Louisiana and call upon Governor Jindal to reconsider his decision to eliminate a benefit which he was instrumental in creating when he was Secretary of DHH.
http://www.allianceforhospice.org
(email) elizabeth@allianceforhospice.org
225.287.4020
Thursday, January 24, 9:00am: House Committee Room 5, Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge –
Louisiana House Health & Welfare Committee hearing reviewing the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) at state hospitals with DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein, LSU President William Jenkins and LSU Health head Dr. Frank Opelka
Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives next week will hear more details about a public-private partnership agreement to manage three state-owned hospitals.
The House Health and Welfare Committee chaired by state Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, will meet Thursday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in Committee Room 5.
“The informational briefing is vital to lawmakers’ understanding of the private/public partnership issue,” said House Speaker Chuck Kleckley. “We need to hear all the details so we are prepared to act in the upcoming session.”
In December, three public-private partnerships were announced, necessitated by a Congressional reduction in Louisiana’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage rate; the lowest rate in more than 25 years. The Interim LSU Hospital and its successor University Medical Center in New Orleans will partner with Louisiana Children’s Medical Center; Leonard J. Chabert Hospital in Houma has reached agreements with Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General Medical Center; and University Medical Center in Lafayette has formed a partnership with its neighbor, Lafayette General Medical Center.
Lawmakers will hear presentations by LSU System President William Jenkins, DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein, and LSU System Executive Vice President for Health Care and Medical Education Redesign Dr. Frank Opelka .
http://www.weeklycitizen.com/article/20130115/NEWS/130119772?template=printart
Friday, January 25, 12:00pm: Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras, New Orleans’ CBD –
Press conference and rally against the end of Hospice Care support for Louisiana Medicaid recipients
Saturday, January 26, 3:00pm to 5:00pm: Mandeville City Hall, 3101 East Causeway Approach
General Meeting of the Committee to Save Southeast Louisiana Hospital (Save SELH)
Monday, February 4 – Tuesday, February 5: The next State Civil Service hearings. We will have more info in the near future.
Thursday, February 7: St. Tammany Parish Council meeting. We will have more info available in the near future.
Get involved, even if you cannot attend any of the events by contacting members of the LOUISIANA HOUSE HEALTH & WELFARE COMMITTEE!
Urge them to consider the consequences of the closure of SELH and the mass layoff of SELH’s workforce!
| Name | E-Mail Address | Phone | Fax |
| Anders, John F. “Andy” | Larep021@legis.la.gov | (318)336-5865 | (318)336-9268 |
| Barrow, Regina | Larep029@legis.la.gov | (225)359-9400 | (225)359-9402 |
| Burford, Richard T. | burfordr@legis.la.gov | (318)925-9588 | (318)925-9590 |
| Cox, Kenny R. | coxk@legis.la.gov | (855)844-8583 | (318)357-3208 |
| Franklin, A B | franklina@legis.la.gov | (337)491-2320 | (337)491-2020 |
| Harris, Lance | harrisl@legis.la.gov | (318)767-6095 | (318)767-6097 |
| Havard, Kenneth E. | havardk@legis.la.gov | (225)634-7470 | (225)634-7477 |
| Hensgens, Bob | hensgensb@legis.la.gov | (337)893-5035 | (337)898-1160 |
| Hill, Dorothy Sue | hilld@legis.la.gov | (800)259-2118 | (337)639-4045 |
| Hoffmann, Frank A. | hoffmanf@legis.la.gov | (318)362-4130 | (318)362-4131 |
| Jackson, Katrina R. | jacksonk@legis.la.gov | (318)362-5123 | (318)362-5125 |
| Kleckley, Chuck | Larep036@legis.la.gov | (337)475-3016 | (337)475-3018 |
| LeBas, H. Bernard | lebasb@legis.la.gov | (337)363-0152 | (337)363-0179 |
| Leger, Walt III | legerw@legis.la.gov | (504)556-9970 | (504)556-9972 |
| Morris, John C. | morrisjc@legis.la.gov | (318)362-4270 | (318)362-4277 |
| Pope, J. Rogers | poper@legis.la.gov | (225)667-3588 | (225)667-3590 |
| Simon, Scott M. | simons@legis.la.gov | (985)893-6246 | (985)893-6247 |
| Whitney, Lenar L. | whitneyl@legis.la.gov | (985)858-2970 | (985)858-2972 |
| Williams, Patrick | Larep004@legis.la.gov | (318)676-5990 | (318)676-5992 |
| Willmott, Thomas P. | willmott@legis.la.gov | (504)465-3479 | (504)465-3481 |
IN THE NEWS:
Hospital care questioned — The Advocate:
http://theadvocate.com/news/neworleans/4958766-148/hospital-care-questioned
As a reminder, if you receive or already have any paperwork or correspondence from an elected official or civil service that could be of an interest to the group, please forward it to us.
Here is the info to contact the Office of the Governor:
Mailing Address:
PO Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004
Phone: 225-342-7015 or 866-366-1121 (Toll Free)
Fax: 225-342-7099
Website to send an email: http://www.gov.la.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=email_governor
For other e-mail addresses, please see our “Get Involved” link to the right. Thanks again for all your time and support!
We oppose the action being taken by the State of Louisiana to close Southeast Louisiana Hospital. We stand in support of the people whose lives will be adversely affected by this closure, which includes patients, employees, and the community at large. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do!
In the words of an anonymous person that commented on the petition comes this amazing quote.
“In such a small community how will businesses survive? Many thrive on the patronage of the staff of SELH. How will families where both the husband and wife are employed at SELH survive? ALL of the recent media coverage identifies a concern regarding the current suicide rates in ST. Tammany Parish. Well depression and suicide are only one diagnosis and subsequent behavior of an individual with a mental illness. Though sad and tragic, the timing of the shooting in CO is alarming! I hope people will TAKE HEED! IF someone is having difficulty and is schizophrenic, then what? If someone is delusional and unable to get immediate attention at the Local Mental Health Center (that is already “overcrowded” and functioning with a lack of staff) where shall the person get the medical help that is necessary. Sure, it’s easy to say. “those experiencing mental emergencies are given priority.” Well, if there isn’t a doctor in the clinic on that day…. wake up people and look at if for what it is! A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN!! Emergency rooms are already backed up and mental health clients may have to wait several days to be admitted into a vacant psych bed. It’s no secret that the private hospitals don’t want to admit these clients. They loose too much money! The medicaid clients are rushed in and out because the hospital wants that bed for a “paying” client. If the existence of SELH was not critical to this area, then why is there ALWAYS A WAITING LIST! It’s a merry go round! NOAH was just closed a year or so ago. Why? “TO SAVE MONEY.” Where did those clients and staff go? To SELH. Where are the clients slated to go now, BACK TO NEW ORLEANS! Does this make any sense? Not to mention that last year this time clients were being URGENTLY moved from ELMS and CENTRAL and sent to SELH!! Why to save money, due to budget cuts! Currently, families struggle to get to Mandeville from other surrounding parishes etc…how will they get to Jackson and Pineville? Of course we seek family involvement, and state in the treatment plans that family will be contacted and they will be involved in the clients’ care. It’s a comedy of errors, but unfortunately the mistakes being made in this case affect real people with real problems.in ways unmeasurable. Currently there is a limited number of inpatient substance abuse beds, co-occurring disorder beds, residential treatment beds/facilities state wide. So, let’s increase that shortage and continue to ship people out of state and increase the deficit in Louisiana while other states thrive on our loss. We say we have “state of the art” teaching universities.. LSU, and TULANE, well where will the residents and attending physicians go to receive their training? SELH serves as a teaching facility for various professions including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and Occupational Therapists. Keep Louisiana alive… keep our children in this state once they have completed their formal education… well we are continually making that more difficult. The Colorado shooter may have been portraying the role of “THE JOKER.” Unfortunately, he is not alone in his role. Louisiana politicians are playing the same role. They just don’t have guns.”
Please take a moment of your time to explore our site by clicking on the links to the right. Thanks for visiting!
