It is hardly a secret that Louisianans, on average, are poorer and less healthy than other Americans. But Louisianans would be even worse off without assistance from Medicaid, the federal-state program established to expand access to medical care.
As Louisiana’s Medicaid program prepares for an era of rapid change, a new report by the Louisiana Budget Project highlights the importance of the state’s health-care safety-net for children and families, as well as the state’s economy. It is the first in a series of two papers highlighting the key role Medicaid plays in protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
Medicaid provides vital health care services to nearly 30 percent of Louisianans. In 2010, three out of five children in Louisiana received Medicaid. This means nearly 775,000 kids relied on Medicaid for everything from routine checkups to specialty care for serious health conditions.
Read the full report and press release.