RUNNING OUT OF TIME - Louisiana's state senators opened their budget hearings Sunday with grim warnings from Gov. John Bel Edwards on failing to solve the state’s pending fiscal cliff which would cause deep cuts to state services. Edwards said "The simple fact of the matter is the clock is running out. We have failed twice over the past
to end the problems that continue to plague our state. And most concerning to me there continues to be a reluctance on the part of too many in the House, particularly in leadership, to recognize or deal with the budget at all." House Republican leaders have suggested that Governor Edwards is inflating the amount and impact of the budget shortfall in order to push a larger-than-needed tax package. However Edwards has maintained that he hasn't
asked for increasing revenue. The Governor said "In fact, I was simply asking for a part of the expiring revenue to be replaced." Edwards is pushing for lawmakers to end the regular legislative session early, to hold another special session aimed at replacing the expiring taxes, after a special session in February failed to generate any money amid a tax negotiation meltdown in the House. Without replacement taxes, Edwards said deep slashing would hit public colleges, the TOPS tuition program, public safety agencies, and especially healthcare services. Louisiana's safety net hospitals have a contract with a private partner to run the state hospitals. Yet they've seen their funding cut over the past two years and as of now they aren't funded in next year's budget which has hospital managers raising concerns. Governor Edwards said "I assured them this year we are committed to not cutting them again if we can fix the cliff."
Hospital officials in Lafayette and New Orleans have warned that without a budget solution to the pending fical cliff, they are willing to terminate their contracts to run the state so-called "safety-net hospitals" which would in turn leave the state of Louisiana to take over and run the facilities. And that's not all; for the funding of these hospital partnerships also help graduate medical education across Louisiana.
Doctor Steve Nelson is Dean of the LSU Medical School in New Orleans. He explained tot he committee that these hospitals are where many residents get their clinical training.
"It's the third and fourth years in your residency where you learn how to be a doctor. " Nelson explained. "That's where you learn how to take care of patients. And if there's no hospital, there's no format to do that."
Hospital funding uncertainty, has caused more would-be medical students to have second-thoughts about getting their medical training in Louisiana. Six years ago about 60% of all Louisiana's Pre- Med Students stayed in the state to attend medical school...this year that number dropped to 46%
