Last week, state political leaders debated the wisdom of sustaining the charity hospital system run by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Division, with some suggesting that there may be better ways of caring for the poor than routing them through LSU's 10 hospitals. Right now, state dollars follow the patient to whichever charity hospital they use. But state senator Tom Schedler, for one, argues that in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it's time to remake the system rather than to rebuild the New Orleans LSU facility that was destroyed in 2005. Schedler is proposing that the poor get a healthcare card allowing them to choose wherever they wish to go, rather than restricting them to charity hospitals. Senator Don Hines, meanwhile, contended that funding a healthcare card or other restructuring might prove more expensive than running the existing system, whatever its flaws. Hines' district may be in line for a new charity hospital.

To learn more about the debate:
- read this article [1] from The Baton Rouge Advocate

PLUS:  A public affairs research group argues that the state would be better served shifting health dollars from institutional care to primary care, and offers several action steps to improve healthcare access in the state. The group estimates that the state can save $40 million per year if half of non-emergency ED visits are diverted to primary care settings.  Release [2]

Related Articles:
- Report finds Louisiana hospitals "unsalvageable." Article [3]
- New Orleans health plan costs mount. Article [4]