Mills And Ortego – State Hospital Budget Cuts Devasting

A 34.5% budget cut proposed for the LSU Hospital system will result in the loss of 173 jobs at Lafayette's University Medical Center and a $22 million budget reduction.  Today on 'Mornings With Ken and Bernie' State Senator Fred Mills and State Representative Stephen Ortego explained the cuts and the effect they will have on local healthcare.  Mills said,

I spoke with UMC Medical Director Dr. James Falterman recently and he told me that the hospital sees approximately 250,000 patients yearly and half of them have no insurance.

 

Representative Ortego said,

I looked at the number of beds remaining after the proposed cuts and realized many rural hospitals have more beds.  I also realized that the cuts would shut down the Intensive Care Unit and I wonder how they plan to have an Emergency Room with no associated ICU.

Listen to the interview with Senator Mills:

Listen to the interview with Representative Ortego: