Snail’s pace: A state audit finds Louisiana’s elderly and developmentally disabled wait longer than people in other states to get community-based services through Medicaid. As of October 2014, the auditor’s report released today says 54,677 people remained on lists for the various Medicaid programs, with wait times ranging from 30 months to 10 years. The Associated Press reports the average wait time nationally for home and community-based programs serving the elderly and individuals with physical disabilities is 10 to 13 months. The auditor wrote that most applicants may never receive the home and community-based services they request. From July 1, 2011, to Oct. 1, 2014, an estimated 74% of applicants “were removed from the registry for reasons other than accepting a waiver slot,” including 20% because they died.
The first step: Lawmakers repeatedly have refused to expand Louisiana’s Medicaid program, siding with Gov. Bobby Jindal. But The Associated Press reports they’ve started advancing a proposal that would help pay for an expansion if Louisiana’s next governor has any interest. Without objection, the House Appropriations Committee today approved legislation by House Speaker Chuck Kleckley that would let hospitals pool their dollars and use that money to help pay for the state’s share of the cost for a Medicaid expansion. The maneuver could draw down billions in additional federal health care dollars, including for hospitals. Kleckley, a Lake Charles Republican, says the proposal could help Louisiana’s budget. He says all four major candidates for governor in the October election have said they’d consider a Medicaid expansion.
Headed to the House: Casinos are objecting to a bill that would pay for rape victims’ medical exams with unclaimed gambling money. The Associated Press reports that Wade Duty of the Louisiana Casino Association says the state should find a way to pay for victims’ exams. But he says lawmakers shouldn’t make casinos foot the bill because they already pay high taxes. Despite the opposition, the proposal by Rep. Helena Moreno was approved without objection today by the House Appropriations Committee. It goes next to the full House. The New Orleans Democrat says her bill is needed because women are regularly billed for rape exams, even though it is against federal law. Casinos currently keep the roughly $1.2 million in gambling money that goes unclaimed every year.
