Earlier this year, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed deep cuts to state healthcare and education spending in a bid to combat an estimated $2.9 billion shortfall.
Under the proposed budget, healthcare would receive $169.4 million less in combined federal and state funding.
Many physicians at Louisiana hospitals fear the cuts will limit both access to healthcare as well as hospitals’ ability to respond to medical emergencies, according to the article.
Physicians also worry spending cuts to University Medical Center, as well as LSU and Tulane medical schools, could create a physician vacuum as young practitioners could choose to seek opportunities in other states.
Some physicians are feeling the budget cut twice over: first, in their position as a teacher at a state university, such as the LSU Health Sciences Center, and again as a practicing physician in a hospital.
“[The budget cuts] would devastate, absolutely cripple, the flow of nursing care and educators to this area,” Peter DeBlieux, MD, professor of clinical medicine at LSUHSC and medical director of University Medical Center, told WWL. “Limiting access to care, limiting training of future physicians and harming our current safety net is unconscionable.”
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