House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Peterson (D-New Orleans) questioned officials from the Louisiana State University Health Services Division, which operates seven of the state’s public hospitals, on the need for every CEO, administrative and higher education position within the division.
Representatives from the LSU Health Services Division said that cuts were made from administration, but no one in the division was getting fired, according to the report. Ms. Peterson suggested that a hard look should be taken at the number of new positions that the state has created over the years.
The LSU Health Services Division is facing an 11.5 percent cut in state funds in the state budget that goes into effect at the beginning of the fiscal year in July. Governor Bobby Jindal has recommended sizable cuts for healthcare and higher education, according to the report.
Read The Advocate’s report on Louisiana hospitals’ budget problems.
