[StBernard] Boasso favors Tenn. program on health care

[Westley Annis]

Boasso favors Tenn. program on health care
 By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Sep 26, 2007 - Page: 1A 

State Sen. Walter Boasso wants Louisiana to consider copying a program in
Tennessee that splits the burden of health insurance coverage among the
state, employer and employee.

"The important thing is to do something for small businesses and the working
poor," Boasso, D-Arabi, said Tuesday while unveiling the health-care plank
of his governor's race platform.

The primary election is Oct. 20.

"Cover Tennessee" offers health insurance to employees at a cost of between
$34 and $99 a month for a premium. The program targets small businesses and
the so-called "working poor" - people who hold down a full-time job but who
cannot afford insurance.

Tennessee pays for the program through a mix of funding including premium
payments, new state revenue growth and federal funds.

In Louisiana, 16 percent of the population lacks government or private
health insurance.

Boasso also supports an expansion of the Louisiana Children's Health
Insurance Program, known as LaCHIP, which currently provides free insurance
for more than 100,000 children.

One of his opponents in the governor's race, U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal drew
criticism for voting earlier this year against reauthorizing the program.

Jindal, R-Kenner, said the bill included a tax on private insurance and cuts
to health care funding for the elderly such as access to wheelchairs.

The issue was expected to come up for another vote late Tuesday in the U.S.
House of Representatives.

President George W. Bush is threatening to veto legislation on the
children's health care program, saying it federalizes health care.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco wrote to the state's congressional leaders Tuesday
asking them to support a compromise bill to prevent the program from
expiring next week. She did not address the president's opposition.

"I'm actually an unusual Republican in D.C. in that I do believe in
universal coverage. I think everybody should have access to affordable
health care," Jindal said.

Like Boasso, Jindal plans to focus on a less costly way of providing
preventative care outside an emergency room.

He said he plans to release a chapter on his health care ideas.

Another candidate, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Bossier
Parish Democrat, sees improving the state's charity hospital system as the
way to expand health care access to the working poor.

New Orleans businessman John Georges, who has no state recognized party
affiliation, favors increasing the number of jobs that offer health
insurance.

David Hood, a health policy analyst for the Public Affairs Research Council,
said the Foster administration tried to push a similar proposal to Boasso's
idea of borrowing from "Cover Tennessee."

Hood served as secretary of the state Department of Health and Hospitals
under Gov. Mike Foster.

The proposal - a restricted benefits package for uninsured adults with the
state, employer and employee each paying a third of the cost - died when
Foster left office, he said.

Louisiana ranks in the top 15 in the nation for providing coverage for
children and 47th for providing coverage to working adults, he said.

"We already know that insurance coverage works," Hood said.

The problem, he said, is the bulk of the state's uncompensated care dollars
is locked into the charity hospital system. Changing that, he said, would
mostly likely need the federal government's approval.

"I think it would require a federal waiver. You'd have to get special
permission from the feds," he said.

The state has earmarked $989 million for uninsured care with the federal
government picking up 70 percent of the cost.

The majority of the state's uncompensated care funding is directed to
charity hospitals and rural facilities that treat the uninsured.  After the
hurricanes, the Legislature set up a small reimbursement pool for private
hospitals that picked up patients from shuttered public hospitals.

Boasso acknowledged that he would have to work with the federal government
to make his plan work.

"I think everything's doable and workable," he said.
 

  
 
  
 

  
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