Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) Issues Report on Privatization of Medicaid

PAR's recent report on the impending privatization of Louisiana's Medicaid program warns consumers to stay involved and stay alert.  PAR's report is titled: Checkup on Bayou Health Reform: What Louisiana Needs to Know About Medicaid Managed Care Privatization.  It is available on PAR's website: www.la-par.org.

As Louisiana shifts its Medicaid program to one that will be outsourced to five private insurance companies, PAR warns that some private companies have attempted to increase profits by reducing necessary health services to Medicaid recipients.  To make sure that does not happen in Louisiana, PAR says we need effective oversight, accountability, and program authority.

Yet, a proposed legislative oversight function was removed from a bill without proper warning to lawmakers during the appropriations process in 2010.  Later, an attempt to strengthen legislative authority was approved unanimously by lawmakers, but vetoed by the governor after the 2011 legislative session.

In the face of that reality, what can consumers do?  Although PAR's study identifies potential areas of concern and the need for more legislative oversight, PAR strongly encourages Medicaid recipients to learn about their options under the new Bayou Health program, and to select a plan as soon as possible that is best suited to their particular needs.  Say PAR, "Bayou Health has the best chance of succeeding if Medicaid-eligible people step forward and learn how to participate in the program

Click here to read more about eligibility for Bayou Health.

To read more about Bayou Health's plans, click here.

Bayou Heath has a website for more information: https://bayouhealth.com.  Also, the Department of Health and Hospitals has created a website which may also help you understand this new Bayou Heath program, Making Medicaid Better.

The schedule for Bayou Health's plan is as follows:

New Orleans and Northshore regions

December 15, 2011 – Enrollment Begins
February 1, 2012 – Bayou Health Begins

Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houma regions

February 15, 2012 – Enrollment Begins
April 1, 2012 – Bayou Health Begins 

Lake Charles, Alexandria, Monroe and Shreveport regions

April 16, 2012 – Enrollment Begins
June 1, 2012 – Bayou Health Begins

Contact the Advocacy Center at (504) 522-2337 if you have trouble signing up for a plan or accessing the services you need.