RHC 2006 Conference
On April 17—19, 2006, the Rural Hospital Coalition held “The Road Ahead” Conference at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Conference Center to discuss the future of Louisiana and how it affects rural hospitals.
Handouts: Dr. Fred Cerise
Pictures from Legislative Reception
To open the
conference on April 17, Sullivan, Stolier and Resor Law Firm sponsored a
Kick-Off Cocktail Reception. Pictured below is Jack Stolier standing behind
Doug Efferson, Administrator for Homer Memorial Hospital, Tina Vidal, Director
of Operations for Pacer Health/South Cameron Hospital and Fred Martinez,
Administrator for St. Charles Parish Hospital.
Governor Blanco welcomed all of the rural hospital administrators and their staff and updated them on health-care initiatives and underscored rural hospitals’ role in providing care. As she spoke to the Rural Hospital Coalition, Governor Blanco stated that "We are going to be working together in the coming months and over the next couple of years so we can develop a health-care system that can deliver in better and more efficient ways."
Points addressed by Secretary Cerise:
· The health-care system disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita provide a perfect opportunity for the revamp.
· Secretary Leavitt has shown particular interest in how Louisiana rebuilds after the hurricanes. Leavitt has expressed a willingness to work with state officials to provide some technical assistance and flexibility in use of federal funds that are spent on health care.
· Among the ideas is changing the basis for Medicaid, Medicare and uncompensated-care payments from one based on “episodes of illness” to one that provides financial incentives to doctors and other providers who emphasize prevention — reducing illness, injury and disability.
During the conference, rural hospital executives requested state and legislative policymakers to provide adequate funding for the care they deliver to uninsured people. Linda Welch, Executive Director of the Coalition, said the 48 rural hospitals need $15 million more than the $68.4 million in Blanco’s proposed state budget. The executives got pledges of support from Senate President Donald Hines (below right) and House Speaker Joe Salter (below left). Hines said the revenue picture might be brighter after a mid-May meeting of the Revenue Estimating Conference, when state economists will do a new analysis of revenue trends.
