Attorney General Jeff Landry And State Senator Fred Mills Announce Donation Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablets

Photo source: Medscape

BATON ROUGE, LA - Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, working with the assistance of State Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Mills, is announcing a major donation by Amneal Pharmaceuticals to help respond to the COVID-19 health emergency. Amneal is donating 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets to the State of Louisiana.

"On behalf of Louisiana, I want to thank Amneal for this generous donation," said General Landry. "It is important we all work together to help solve the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. We must come together as Louisianans and as Americans. This donation from Amneal demonstrates their strong effort to be a good corporate citizen in our Nation."

Read more: Attorney General Jeff Landry And State Senator Fred Mills Announce Donation Of 400,000 Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablets From Amneal Pharmaceuticals To Benefit COVID-19 Coronavirus Patients In Louisiana

Pending “Buy America” Executive Order Threatens Coronavirus Response

Photo source: CDC

This week, as the coronavirus pandemic surges, President Trump is considering an executive order that would result in obstructing the movement of critical medical supplies and treatments.

The new order aims to bring the pharmaceutical supply chain back to the United States by forcing federal agencies to "Buy America"—American medical equipment, American pharmaceutical ingredients, American drugs and vaccines, you name it.

Now is not the time to shutter our borders and prevent global cooperation. Americans already face massive shortages of diagnostic tests and vital supplies, like face masks and ventilators. And they're waiting for researchers to develop a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment that will require collaborative sourcing from around the world.

Read more: Pending “Buy America” Executive Order Threatens Coronavirus Response

OPINION: Rural Louisianans Need A Voice in Healthcare Discussions

By Rebekah Hebert, RN 

As of right now, rural Louisianans are losing the healthcare debate in America. We face continued hospital closures and doctor shortages in more remote parts of the state, and many patients face outstanding medical bills that they didn’t expect to receive when going to see a doctor. When it comes to access to care and affordability, lawmakers in Washington seem to forget to talk about those who are most impacted: the hard-working Louisianans in rural parts of the state. 

There are 750,000 residents that live in rural parts of Louisiana, and most of them face similar fears when it comes to how healthcare access. In the event of a medical emergency, there is often a very limited window of time for patients to get to a Level I or II trauma center. Rural Louisianans often have to navigate miles of highway traffic before they even reach the nearest equipped facility. Air ambulances provide rural residents with a solution; they are able to fly over traffic and carry a team of professionals that can immediately provide medical attention to patients. The rapid response times of air medical services gives peace of mind to rural communities who may otherwise have few options in the event of a life-threatening medical situation.

Those that live in more urbanized parts of the state don’t face the same issues rural residents do. They don’t share the same anxiety we face about whether we will make it to the hospital in time if a loved one goes into labor or if our partner suffers from a seizure or heart attack. In emergency situations, air medical providers are often the last lifeline.

As critical as air medical services are to remote communities, insurers don’t always cover the cost of calling an air ambulance, and rapid-response air medical providers can end up taking on the costs themselves and ultimately having to shut down. Alternatively, when an insurer doesn’t cover these costs, patients may end up having to cover these high costs themselves. We need lawmakers in Washington to find a solution that does not leave patients drowning in debt or force medical response teams to shut their doors. Rural constituents deserve the comfort of knowing that there are effective modes of transportation and first responders that can reach patients statewide and quickly get them to a hospital.

Instead of closing up shop, air medical providers should be encouraged to expand their businesses, especially to cover the increasing number of rural regions that are confronted with hospital closures and shortages of medical professionals. 

Rural Louisianans are losing the healthcare debate, because too often we are not even a part of the conversation. But I have not lost hope. Representative Scalise has an opportunity to be a healthcare champion for his rural constituents by supporting legislation that secures access to air medical services for rural communities while taking the burden of dealing with disputes between insurers and providers off of patients’ shoulders. I hope, above all, that the Congressman will choose to protect rural Louisianan patients over insurer profits in the ongoing healthcare discussions in Washington.                                  

Rebekah Hebert is a Registered Nurse and a healthcare advocate from rural Louisiana.

Socialism Would Destroy Prescription Drug Markets

Americans deserve lower prices for prescription drugs. But we also need newer and better drugs that treat chronic illness and keep us healthier. The free market is the only tool that can deliver both lower prices and new, effective medicines. Socialism can’t and won’t.

This matters today, because unfortunately, the Trump administration may soon be swayed by the idea that is has to “do something,” and that something may end up being the imposition of price controls.

As the 2020 election looms, Trump’s Health and Human Services department is pushing something called the “International Pricing Index.” IPI would imports price controls from socialist nations and impose them in the U.S. That might lower prices for a few months, but it would cause harm in the long term.

For proof, just look at gasoline.

Read more: Socialism Would Destroy Prescription Drug Markets

Importing Socialism

One of the first things President Trump did after being elected was to take a pair of pliers to the teeth of socialized medicine — Obamacare — and rescind the “shared responsibility payment” — the massive fine applied to Americans who wanted nothing to do with socialized medicine and the costs it imposed.

By getting rid of the “shared responsibility payment,” the president effectively got rid of Obamacare’s “individual mandate” to buy into socialized medicine, undermining the whole thing. So it’s ironic — and tragic — that the president who worked to get rid of homegrown medical socialism is importing socialized medicine from abroad.

To be fair, it may not be the president who’s working to import medical socialism. It’s the permanent bureaucracy — a.k.a. the swamp.

Which the president famously promised to drain.

Read more: Importing Socialism

Solving Surprise Medical Billing Through Market-Based Rates Gets Bipartisan Love

New recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center zero in on surprise medical bills and the need to tackle these unfair charges as part of a system-wide approach to addressing unsustainable health costs. The bipartisan group of health care experts — led by former Sens. Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, M.D. — noted that the best way to safeguard patients from bankrupting charges is through a local, market-based approach that ties out-of-network reimbursement to the median in-network rate.

We agree — as do leading unions, employers, consumer groups and policy experts. 

Read more: Solving Surprise Medical Billing Through Market-Based Rates Gets Bipartisan Love

OPED: Medicare Advantage is Good for Our Community. Here’s Why.

Photo source: Philly Voice

The following oped was provided to Cajun Conservatism by Gwen Miller, a resident of St. Landry Parish:

Getting older isn’t what it used to be—and in a good way! Back when Medicare was founded, senior citizens weren’t expected to live as long or be as active as we are today. Fortunately, our health care coverage is keeping up with the times. Congress has worked in a bipartisan fashion to continually improve Medicare Advantage to bring innovative, private health plans to seniors. And it’s worked.

I became Medicare-eligible a year ago, and I decided Medicare Advantage would be best for me. I wanted “all in one” coverage, and I was impressed by the health plans in my area, some of which charge nothing in monthly premiums.

My plan incorporates everything I need to control my few minor health problems and to protect against more serious diseases from developing. I’m particularly pleased with the prescription drug coverage. In Medicare Advantage, this is built in, so I don’t pay extra for other insurance. The costs are very affordable, and I can get refills at nearly any pharmacy or via mail order. I’m saving money compared to what I was spending before I joined Medicare Advantage, a nice bonus when you’re stretching your retirement savings.

Volunteering in a nursing home has shaped my goals for aging. The facility where I help out offers high-quality care, but nothing can be just like home. Like most seniors, I want to remain an independent, contributing member of the Opelousas community. And I know things like genetics play their part but that I have to put in the work, too.

That’s why I’m glad Medicare Advantage is forward-thinking. Rather than dissuading seniors from using services, they encourage us to take advantage of our benefits—especially the free preventive and wellness care.

Need a checkup? It costs nothing. Is it time for a cholesterol or cancer screening? Get one at no charge. Want some guidance to manage diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, or other condition? Did you make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, eat healthier, or become more active? Medicare Advantage has free programs to help.

Free is good. Medicare Advantage plans remove the financial barriers that can otherwise cause seniors to avoid care. And their investment pays off. Medicare Advantage does a better job of keeping seniors out of the hospital, where none of us want to wind up anyway.

The impacts reach beyond seniors. I’m more involved in the community because of the benefits I enjoy with Medicare Advantage, and countless other seniors in our area say the same thing. Our churches, soup kitchens, libraries, garden clubs, tutoring programs—you name it, local charities and other organizations are more robust because Medicare Advantage supports retirees as we engage in activities we care about.

Elected leaders should, therefore, see Medicare Advantage as a top priority issue. Federal officials can support this program as a way to build a better Louisiana. And voters should be sure to check 2020 candidates’ records to make sure the lawmakers they back this fall are as dedicated to Medicare Advantage as we seniors are to Opelousas.

Medicare Advantage Is a Pillar of Success in Health Care

It’s not an exaggeration to say that health care determines the path to the White House. It’s an issue that’s been at the center of our last five elections dating back to at least 2010, and this year will be no exception. 

The reason is simple: Americans demand — and deserve — affordable, high-quality health care. Candidates naturally promise all of that and more, but their ideas about how to get there are radically different. 

But there’s one promising area where common ground still exists. Every year, leaders from across the political spectrum — including presidential candidates — come together to support the Medicare Advantage program.

Read more: Medicare Advantage Is a Pillar of Success in Health Care

Warren, Sanders and Medicare for All. What's real? What's not?

Medicare-for-all advocates, including two top Democratic presidential candidates, have a powerful adversary: large regional health systems that employ tens of thousands of local workers. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have proposed Medicare-for-all systems that could eliminate private health insurance and instead have the government take over paying for health care. 

Top executives at many health systems in the region said a shift to a so-called single-payer system that pays at the current rate of Medicare would lead to hospital closures, longer appointment wait times and a drastic cut in research and development funds.

Read more: Warren, Sanders and Medicare for All. What's real? What's not?

OPINION: Lower Health Care Costs Act

As congress looks to wrap up their year, healthcare packages are at the top of many legislators’ minds – including Speaker Pelosi.  In fact, the Lower Health Care Costs Act, is one of those bills that’s being pushed right now.  Though coming from a good place, this bill is misguided. It will make the lives of rural Louisianans much worse by taking away their access to emergency services. 

That’s why I’m so concerned about the narrow-minded approach many of our lawmakers seem to be taking in their effort to address surprise medical billing. In Louisiana, many people live in rural areas - often far away from the Level 1 trauma centers where lifesaving care takes place.  An airlift might seem excessive to some, but it’s the difference between life and death for rural Americans who are injured in an accident, having a heart attack, or experiencing complications in labor and delivery. Otherwise, those patients would have to drive hours to the hospital in situations where every minute counts. 

Air ambulance operators make nearly 5,000 lifesaving flights per year in our state. However, despite the fact that so many people need their services, these brave men and women risk being out of a job soon. Air ambulance bases across Louisiana are in danger of closing and in turn costing people lives and livelihoods.

Congress’ solution to this? Federal government price controls that end up allowing insurers to pay even less to these operators. Price controls are not conservative – especially in healthcare. The road to socialism is paved with small tweaks to our economy like this and I think I speak for most conservatives when I say, we don’t need any more socialism in our country’s healthcare. Obamacare was enough for a lifetime! We appreciate Senators Cassidy and Kennedy taking a close look at any surprise billing legislation and work to ensure a solution that preserves access to emergency care. 

OPINION: Protect Access is Key to Health Care

Access to affordable and reliable medical services is key to any conversation surrounding health care in 2019. With a rise of rural hospital closures, the care Louisianans rely on is moving further away from them each year.

Knowing that, is it concerning that Congress is considering legislation that could actually further limit access to quality, lifesaving services. The Lower Health Care Costs Act being considered in Washington does more harm than good when it comes to our health care system. 

At first glance, the Lower Health Care Costs Act addresses a critical problem: surprise billing. When a patient uses a service like an air ambulance, there are situations where insurers do not cover the costs, sometimes leaving patients with an unexpected, hefty medical bill. I think we can all agree that is a practice that should cease. 

Unfortunately, in an attempt to address this issue, the current proposal makes the challenge of providing rural health care worse. By setting a rate of reimbursement, the legislationdiscourages fair in-network agreement between insurers and air ambulance companies. Left without the funds needed to cover their operating costs, air ambulances would like close.  A patientmight avoid a bill, but they will also lose access the emergency health care they rely on in the direst situations.

This is not a tradeoff we should have to make. Let’s find a solution that protects patients from surprise bills and protects their access to quality health care.

Quin Bates - Retired Chemical Plant Manager

Steve Forbes: Pelosi's 'Medicare-for-all' strategy looks a lot like a big wooden horse

Photo source: Fox News

Medicare-for-all would wipe out the entire American insurance industry, taking with it all exchange plans and all employer and union-provided health care coverage. Half a million U.S. jobs would be eliminated.

But Pelosi, ultra-liberal that she is at heart, still craves "Medicare-for-all" as much as anyone. She just knows she’s going to have to be tricky to get it done.

Read more: Steve Forbes: Pelosi's 'Medicare-for-all' strategy looks a lot like a big wooden horse

Republican Party of Louisiana Calls for Federal Legislation with Baseball-Style Arbitrationto Stop Surprise Medical Billing

Unanimous Resolution Applauds Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Leadership to Introduce STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act

Baton Rouge, LA – Today, the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously approved a resolution calling for the federal adoption of Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR), often referred to as baseball-styled arbitration, a free-market solution to stop the practice of surprise medical billing.

It also applauds U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) for his leadership in authoring the STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act and “encourages the entire Louisiana congressional delegation to continue fighting for a legislative solution that encourages free-market-solutions such as the IDR framework and not government rate setting via benchmarking.”

Surprise medical billing occurs when patients receive unexpected and excessive medical bills for health care services that they believed would be covered by their insurance companies.

“Surprise medical billing is driving up the cost of health care for everyone, and a free-market resolution like IDR is the only proven way to solve the problem without unintentionally making it even worse for patients. Some proposals out there – like government price-setting – would do exactly that by limiting patients’ ability to get care close to home from the doctors they trust,” said Louis Gurvich, Chairman of the Republican Party of Louisiana.

Authored by SCC member Lloyd Harsch, the resolution was unanimously approved by the party’s executive committee during today’s Republican State Central Committee meeting.

“The party chose to highlight this issue because it is a critical part of increasing transparency for patients and lowering the costs of healthcare for millions of Americans,” Gurvich added.

The full text of the resolution is available HERE.

Socialistic Drug Price Controls Should be Rejected

The only solution to lower prices for any product is a free market, where there is competition and market-based price negotiations, not government interference. Instead of adopting policies that countries with socialized healthcare systems use to keep costs down but destroy their pharmaceutical innovation, elected leaders in the U.S. should be looking to market solutions and quicker Food and Drug Administration approvals for both generic and innovative pharmaceuticals.

Read more: Socialistic Drug Price Controls Should be Rejected

Clay Higgins Shares Personal Experiences Regarding Obamacare

On a recent visit to Fox News, Congressman Clay Higgins from Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District shared his personal experiences with the train wreck called Obamacare. Higgins described the decisions that that he and his family had to make regarding groceries or insurance during his time as a law enforcement official..

Democrats Falsely Take Credit for Republican AG Jeff Landry’s Sweeping Louisiana Healthcare Bill

Photo source: Twitter 

 “A Democratic campaign arm attempting to give John Bel Edwards credit for my Legislation, developed with Republican leaders, to protect pre-existing healthcare conditions without Obamacare,” Landry charged Tuesday. “A bill he attacked. THAT’S RICH. Thank you for recognizing the bipartisan support.”

Read more: Democrats Falsely Take Credit for Republican AG Jeff Landry’s Sweeping Louisiana Healthcare Bill

Or, Better Worded, Governor Signs Jeff Landry's Healthcare Bill Into Law

Trying their best to cover the backside of the liberal governor they love so much, Louisiana media has reported that “Honor Code” Edwards, who once called the healthcare bill recently passed by the legislature a “fig leaf” for Attorney General Landry, has signed that same bill into law.

After calling the bill a “fig leaf” aimed at saving Louisiana’s attorney general from embarrassment, Gov. John Bel Edwards quietly signed into a law a measure pushed by one of his political rivals that aims to eventually offer some protections to patients if the Affordable Care Act is overturned.

The bill was backed by Attorney General Jeff Landry, and authorizes the state’s insurance commissioner to study other state’s health care models to come up with a potential replacement for the ACA’s individual health exchange. It would only be necessary if the ACA is overturned--which is the goal of a lawsuit that Landry has joined.

Read more: After criticizing health insurance bill, Gov. Edwards signs measure pushed by Jeff Landry

CITIZENS FOR LOUISIANA JOB CREATORS: Senate Approves AG Landry's Healthcare Bill

Today, the Health & Welfare Senate Committee unanimously approved SB 173 - the Health Care Coverage for Louisiana Families Protection Act which provides protections for patients with pre-existing conditions should Obamacare be repealed. 

AG Landry has worked diligently with Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, Senate Health & Welfare Chairman Fred Mills, House Speaker Taylor Barras, and the entire committee to craft this legislation that addresses numerous concerns for health insurance recipients and those with pre-existing conditions. The win today is a huge step in the process for this important bill to become law.

Thanks to the Senate Health & Welfare Committee members Senators Regina Barrow, Gerald Boudreax, Norby Chabert, Dan Claitor, Yvonne Colomb Dorsey, Dale Erdey, Bob Hensgens, Jay Luneau, & Chairman Fred Mills for referring the bill out of committee!

And, THANK YOU AG Landry for standing up for everyone across Louisiana to ensure that health insurance coverage will not be in jeopardy for those with pre-existing conditions!

Sen. Kennedy Joins Legislation To Keep Health Care Costs Down and Protect Patients

Feb 14, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined S.172,the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2019, to keep health care costs down for families across Louisiana by delaying the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Tax.  This punitive tax – if it is allowed to take effect -  would increase costs for everyone from senior citizens to small businesses.

Sen. Kennedy also joined S.283, which would increase access to osteoporosis screenings for Medicare patients.  Medicare reimbursement for these screenings has shrunk, resulting in an increase in hip fractures.

“Obamacare sucks, and the Health Insurance Tax really sucks.  It would create $16 billion in additional fees on health insurance and send premiums through the roof.  Health care is expensive enough without this ridiculous tax,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “It’s also ridiculous to discourage health screenings that literally save lives.  By testing for osteoporosis, we can prevent possibly fatal falls.”

Source:  Sen. Kennedy Joins Legislation To Keep Health Care Costs Down and Protect Patients

Socialized Medicine Requires Six Things — America Has None Of Them.

Photo source: Flickr

When Democrats complain about government inaction, they frequently point to European countries and bemoan why can't we just be more like them?!? Alas the Left enjoys looking at the results of socialized medicine in other developed nations, but they aren't very interested how they do it. The truth is a country can have socialized medicine, but they need the six things.

America currently has none of them.

Read more: Socialized Medicine Requires Six Things — America Has None Of Them.