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Show your support for bringing over $26 billion in new federal funding to Louisiana over the next ten years and taking advantage of an opportunity with both economic and public health benefits for all of our citizens. Sign our petition now.
Tell your lawmakers that expanding Medicaid is the right choice for Louisiana. Tell them that it is good for our state budget by reducing the amount spent on costly emergency room and hospital visits by those who cannot afford to pay.
Volunteer with LCHE
www.volunteermatch.org
Time is money! Donate your time to LCHE. Volunteerism is a great way to get involved and be a part of LCHE’s mission, to confront unhealthy conditions, and transform communities. We rely on the valuable support of volunteers. LCHE is registered under non-profit organizations with VolunteerMatch. Visit www.volunteermatch.org to learn about volunteer opportunities with LCHE that are posted on their database.
Your involvement through volunteerism is important to LCHE’s ability to serve throughout Louisiana. Sign up today, then spread the word about LCHE.
About Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana
Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana embodies a diverse group that spans the gamut of healthcare stakeholders including health care providers, nonprofit organizations, consumer organizations, employers, civic groups, concerned citizens, and others who have come together for the specific purpose of engaging many different voices in support of expanding access to healthcare and advancing Medicaid expansion by taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Medicaid Expansion is Right Choice for Louisiana
There are 895,000 uninsured children and adults in the state. Medicaid expansion will provide health insurance for up to 400,000 Louisianans, who are without health insurance and in so doing, will save Louisiana money by reducing the money it spends providing healthcare in emergency rooms and outpatient health clinics for people without insurance. In Louisiana, with the exception of pregnant women, adults without children are ineligible for Medicaid at any income level and the income eligibility for parents is extremely low.
Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana is working through its supporters to educate the general public, members of the media, community and civic leaders, and public officials about the need for better access to healthcare and to adopt the Medicaid expansion provisions, as well as the implications of the decision facing the Legislature and what it means for our state.
The Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana emerged because of the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The ruling allows individual states to opt in or not for one of the Act’s key provisions – expand the health insurance provisions offered by the Medicaid program to a larger share of its uninsured population.
The future for the hundreds of thousands of Louisianans who are now without health insurance, but who would be covered by full implementation of the Medicaid expansion provisions, now rests with the Louisiana Legislature when it convenes in April. Adopting the Medicaid expansion is an economic development opportunity while ensuring a healthier workforce for Louisiana’s business and industry sector and public health as a whole.
Related Resources
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Greetings:
Louisiana is home for nearly 4.5 million people rich in diversity. Louisiana is known for its food and music, subtropical climate, and historical landmarks. Our state is unique and like none other. During its early history, fertile land made many Louisiana planters among the wealthiest men in America. The state later became a major producer of oil and natural gas. Today, Louisiana remains vital to petroleum refining and petrochemicals manufacturing.
While the state has a wealth of natural resources, there are Louisiana residents that attend school, live and work in conditions leaving them prone to poor health. They are forced to give up basic necessities such as nutritious food and safe housing. Too many working families are struggling, and health care is the easiest necessity to eliminate.
Furthermore, Louisiana residents experience unhealthy circumstances, including premature deaths from preventable diseases and infants that do not survive, at higher rates than most of our fellow Americans across this country. This reality led me to create the Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE). As LCHE’s president and founder, I envision a different scenario allowing everyone the option of choosing to live a healthy life, where health is viewed as a measure of wealth. LCHE’s goal is to raise awareness of opportunities to become a healthy Louisiana.
I am certain this is a massive initiative to undertake! Yet, it’s one that must be addressed in our homes, schools, and communities. Join me in this journey, and we will make a difference along the way. When the residents of Louisiana are healthier, we will all reap the benefits as a society.
Sincerely,
Alma C. Stewart, RN, MS, CCHC, Founder and President
Louisiana Center for Health Equity
alma@lahealthequity.org
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High prevalence of obesity at 33.9 percent of the population,
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Low high school graduation rate with 61.3 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years,
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High incidence of infectious disease at 23.8 cases per 100,000 population,
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High rate of preventable hospitalizations with 97.3 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees,
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High infant mortality rate at 9.5 deaths per 1,000 live births and
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High rates of cancer at 220.1 deaths per 100,000 population, and
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High rates of cardiovascular deaths at 334.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
Additionally, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the state varies by race and ethnicity with higher rates among African Americans. To view the full report click here http://www.americashealthrankings.org/yearcompare/2009/2010/LA.aspx
The National Institute of Health defines disparities as the difference in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those most vulnerable to health disparities include racial and ethnic minorities. Other populations may be vulnerable based on disability status, age, and risk status related to sex and gender, socio-economic status, and other social characteristics.
Health equity is the response to health disparities. It is the opportunity for all people to attain their full health potential in spite of their social circumstances.
As we have charted our course and set our goals to reach out to those who face significant barriers to better health the LCHE timely mission has resounding relevance. Through our collective commitment, we can be the lifeline providing health education and information to local communities, organizations and groups, policymakers, and others. Join LCHE in transforming lives — community by community.
LCHE, established in January 2010, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization with IRS status as a 501 (C) (3) tax exempt public charity, works to address the increasing disparities in health and health care across Louisiana. LCHE represents the interest of health equity by promoting the elimination of health disparities caused by poverty, lack of access to quality health care and unhealthy environmental conditions with a focus on wellness and community health.