Health Care
The 2005 hurricanes devastated a health care system that was already straining to provide necessary health services to its population. Before the storms, Louisiana had a “two-tier” health system, with a quarter of the population below poverty and 20 percent uninsured. Health care for the poor and uninsured was provided through the state-run Charity hospital system financed by Medicaid DSH dollars, and more community-based care and broadened health coverage was needed. After the 2005 hurricanes, the Greater New Orleans area health system has been overwhelmed at best, and devastated at worse, with the loss of health facilities and closure of Charity Hospital, the dispersion of health care workers, and confusion and disrupted care for people, especially the poor and uninsured.
In response to the scores of requests for assistance in addressing this healthcare crisis, in February 2007, Tracie Washington worked with Xavier University and its Office of Technology to sponsor a Healthcare Symposium and Health Fair. The Health Fair was a tremendous success, with residents receiving blood pressure screenings and cholesterol checks, and free childhood vaccinations for children, and tetanus vaccinations for the adults. Further, several health care providers and physicians made presentations on such issues as cancer, mental health, and pediatric medicine.
In January 2008, LJI staff, along with pro bono attorneys from New Orleans, Boston, Phoenix and Seattle, filed a lawsuit seeking the partial reopening of Charity Hospital. Charity Hospital served as the local health center in New Orleans for the uninsured before the Hurricanes and has remained closed since. The partial re-opening of Charity serves an important role in bigger plans to rework the entire health care system of Louisiana to provide quality health care for all, from preventative to emergency care. In addition, as part of t he larger plan, LJI has hired a health care community organizer.
