News roundup: New Orleans firm wins military contract worth up to $49M … Updated Louisiana public school grading system prompts worries … Louisiana collects $250K in fines from Medicaid managers  

Smooth sailing: Entrust Government Solutions of New Orleans has just landed a five-year Military Sealift Command contract worth up to $49 million. The firm will provide information technology engineering support for the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems division of the Sealift Command for work done in Norfolk, Virginia, through August 2023, according to the Pentagon’s daily contract list. The Sealift Command provides ocean transportation for the Department of Defense. Its 110 civilian-crewed ships replenish Navy ships and move military cargo and supplies around the world for U.S. forces and partners. Read the full story.
Straight A’s: As Louisiana’s public schools begin to reopen, local superintendents are telling parents to brace for a drop in upcoming school letter grades. Louisiana has a new, tougher rating system that will force ratings lower, prompting some education officials to worry that will spark outcry. Michael Faulk, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, says his group has been advising superintendents for months to get ready for the changes, “to prepare people so it won’t be a shock.” State figures show that during the transition, the number of F-rated schools will rise by 57% while those with A ratings will drop 38%. Read the full story.
Audit update: The private companies that manage care for most of Louisiana’s Medicaid patients recently paid $250,000 in fines for inaccurate record-keeping, the state health department said Monday, on the eve of a legislative hearing digging into agency oversight of the companies. Error rates topped 10%, which triggered the fine under terms of the companies’ contracts with the state. The five companies, which oversee care for 1.5 million Medicaid patients, paid a $50,000 fine each. Auditors say sloppy oversight makes it impossible to know if the $12 billion Medicaid program is paying for things it shouldn’t be. Read the full story.