[MarignyBywater] Louisiana Legislature to debate healthcare discrimination

[Smhersh at aol.com]

National Coalition for Dually  Eligible People

Sheldon Hersh,  MD, President, _www.nacdep.org_ (http://www.nacdep.org/)    
The Louisiana Legislature will soon  debate House Concurrent Resolution No. 
4, which will end Louisiana healthcare  discrimination and reduce 
healthcare disparities.  This binding resolution, introduced by  Representative 
Walker Hines, will  
    *   restore equal Medicare benefits  for 108,000 poor, elderly and 
disabled Medicare beneficiaries,  and  
    *   restore equal Medicare benefits  for Orleans, Jefferson, St. 
Bernard, and Plaquemines  parishes. 
Louisiana decreased its share of the Medicare  benefit for 108,000 poor 
Medicare beneficiaries who also have Medicaid.  Poor Medicare beneficiaries are 
 disproportionately elderly African Americans and mentally and physically  
disabled people.  A Report to  Congress proved this policy decreased their 
access to primary medical care 5%  and decreased their access to mental 
health services 21%. 
Louisiana allows 88% of the Medicare benefit  for poor Medicare 
beneficiaries in 60 Louisiana  parishes; but in Katrina-damaged Orleans,  Jefferson, 
St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes, Louisiana allows only 82%  of their 
Medicare benefit.  Compared  with the rest of the state, these four parishes 
have a competitive  disadvantage. 
It will cost Louisiana about $20  million to restore payments.  Medicaid is 
a federal-state program; the federal government will pay  about $14 
million, and Louisiana will pay about $6 million.  All Medicare beneficiaries 
worked, paid  payroll taxes, and earned the same Medicare benefits.   
    *   To read the Position Statement or  view the New Orleans City 
Council presentation, visit _http://www.nacdep.org_ (http://www.nacdep.org/) .  
    *   To view the Louisiana Legislature  Resolution, click on 
_http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=642456_ 
(http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=642456)   
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