BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana would temporarily block the creation of new Medicaid-financed centers aimed at helping “medically fragile” children, under legislation nearing final passage.
The Senate voted 24-14 Tuesday to place a one-year moratorium on pediatric day health care centers, not allowing any new ones into the state-funded program until July 2017. The moratorium would begin on July 1.
Lawmakers in the House have agreed to the bill by Denham Springs Rep. Rogers Pope, which goes back to the chamber for consideration of technical changes.
Supporters say the temporary halt to new licenses would give the health department time to improve oversight for a program whose cost has grown to nearly $30 million this year.
Opponents say the moratorium will deny specialized health services to disabled children.
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House Bill 498: www.legis.la.gov
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