Lafourche Pitches In To Avoid Chabert Med Cuts

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — The Lafourche Parish Council has agreed to contribute $1 million help prevent cuts at the state charity hospital in Houma.

The money approved Tuesday will be added to an expected $2 million from Terrebonne Parish to avoid cuts to services and staff at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center.

A public-private partnership announced Monday is expected to provide the long-term solution to keep the hospital, which serves many of the area's poor and uninsured, open.

Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General Medical Center have agreed to step in as partners to lease the hospital from the state.

In September, after severe federal Medicaid cuts, the LSU board governing state hospitals announced it would cut more than $14.3 million from Chabert's budget.