Today the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the names of 18 students selected as regional finalists in the state’s annual Student of the Year competition.  The 18 students selected include one 5th, 8th and 12th grader from each of the state’s six regions – and represent public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools across Louisiana. The finalists will convene at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge on March 17 for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the three state Student of the Year winners.

“We are pleased to recognize these students as some of the best and brightest of our state and to honor them as 2010 Student of the Year regional finalists,” State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said. “Their personal commitment to academic excellence, community service and other interests are worthy of praise. On behalf of the Department, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to each of the 18 finalists.”

All public schools, including charter schools, as well as approved non-public schools, were asked to submit one candidate from their student body.

Students compete with their peers at the district level, and may advance to the regional competitions. Students are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees also use student-made portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews to assess the communications and critical thinking skills of each candidate.

Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews, as well as review a writing sample from each of the finalists.

“Being a finalist for the Louisiana 2010 Student of the Year competition is an outstanding honor and a true testament to each of these students’ extraordinary efforts in the classroom and beyond,” said Keith Guice, president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We all are very proud of these students, who attend public and private schools statewide, and we wish them well in their future pursuits.”

The finalists are as follows:

Grade 4

• Leah Huber, Stockwell Place Elementary, Bossier Parish
• Ashlen Grace Cady, Kiroli Elementary School, Ouachita Parish
• Brittany Rose Collins, J.I Barron Elementary, Rapides Parish
• Kyle Andrew Sellers, Bains Elementary School, West Feliciana Parish
• Injee Hong, Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies, Jefferson Parish
• Nicholas Cassidy, Our Lady Immaculate School, Diocese of Lake Charles

Grade 8

• Elles Rock, Cope Middle School, Bossier Parish
• Mary Kate McEacharn, Delhi Charter, Richland Parish
• Benjamin Christopher Shallow, Elton High School, Jefferson Davis Parish
• Aaron Zachary Reed, Mandeville Junior High, St. Tammany Parish
• Eris Monique Stove, East Thibodaux Middle School, Lafourche Parish
• Gabrielle Marie Lessen, Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Diocese of Alexandria

Grade 12

• Andrew Murphy, Captain Shreve High School, Caddo Parish
• Jamie Lynn Robinson, Oak Grove High School, West Carroll Parish
• Daniel Lee Comeaux, Lafayette High School, Lafayette Parish
• Justin Bryant Schopp, Central High School, Central Community Schools
• Megan Ashley Alfonso, Chalmette High School, St. Bernard Parish
• Bonnie Joyce McLindon, St. Joseph’s Academy, Diocese of Baton Rouge

Two young men were killed Sunday in a three-vehicle crash on LA 70 near Sorrento shortly after 5:00 p.m. State Troopers began investigating the crash that had LA 70 near LA 22 closed to traffic for nearly three hours. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1991 Honda Civic, being driven by Thomas Walker (W/M, age 18) of Robert, was traveling toward Sorrento on LA 70 when it crossed the centerline and sideswiped a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu traveling the opposite direction. After the collision with the Malibu, the Civic continued traveling in the opposing lane and struck a 2009 Chevrolet Pickup head on. Walker and his passenger, Christopher Stafford (W/M, age 23) of Ponchatoula, were both killed upon impact with the pickup. It is unknown why Walker drove the Civic across the centerline, but Troopers suspect he may have been impaired.

The driver of the Malibu, Stephanie Nisby (B/F, age 41) of Gibson, her two minor children, and the driver of the pickup, Christopher Paz (W/M, age 25) of Prairieville, were all transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales with minor injuries. All occupants were properly restrained when the crash occurred. Troopers do not suspect either Nisby or Paz of having been impaired. However, Troopers have submitted blood samples from all three drivers to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) this week met with potential proposers for the design-build project to extend the widening of Interstate 12 to Juban Road. Department officials held the meeting in order to discuss changes to the I-12 request for proposals for the project.

On January 31, 2010, Troopers assigned to the Gaming Unit at Harrah’s Casino saw a young boy sitting unattended outside of the Canal Street entrance. The Troopers asked the child if any adults were with him and he told the Troopers that his mother left him outside while she entered Harrah’s to gamble. Troopers determined the child was 9 years old and escorted him to the Louisiana State Police office inside of Harrah’s. Troopers began searching for the mother, identified as Yvette A. Lindsey, black female, of New Orleans, inside of Harrah’s and found her gambling at a slot machine. Ms. Lindsey was taken into custody and charged with Child Desertion and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. She was booked in the Orleans Parish Central Lock-Up.

Troopers determined that the child was left alone outside of the casino for approximately one half hour while nightfall was approaching and the temperature was 46 degrees. The child’s father was notified and he met the Troopers at Harrah’s and took custody of the child.

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Trooper Melissa Matey
Public Affairs Unit
State Police Troop B

The Louisiana Department of Revenue will host a series of meetings across the state to provide information and answer questions about the series of tax deductions known as the Louisiana School Tuition & Expense Tax Deduction. The Louisiana School Tuition & Expense Tax Deduction applies to education expenses required by schools that were paid during 2009. Eligible expenses include private and parochial school tuition, uniforms, home-schooling supplies, and education supplies required by the school. To claim the deduction, it is not necessary to be the student’s parent, but you must be able to claim the student as a dependent on your Louisiana Resident Individual Income Tax Return.The meetings will take place on Tuesday, February 9, at 6:00 p.m. at the following locations:

Alexandria Area
City of Pineville Community Center
708 Main Street, Pineville

Baton Rouge Area
8585 Archives Avenue, Baton Rouge

Lafayette Area
Lafayette Public Library, South Branch
6101 Johnston Street, Lafayette

Lake Charles Area
Capital One Tower, 12th Floor
1 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles

Monroe Area
Ouachita Public Library, Main Branch
1800 Stubbs Avenue, Monroe

New Orleans Area
St. Charles Public Library, Westbank Branch
105 Lakewood Drive, Luling

Shreveport Area
1525 Fairfield Avenue, Room 205, Shreveport

For more information, visit the Louisiana School Tuition & Expense Tax Deduction page at revenue.louisiana.gov.

On January 28, 2010, investigators with the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit arrested Ed Buie (W/M age 60) of Hammond, LA, on the charges of Forgery and Filing False Public Records. The arrest was the result of a joint investigation with the Hammond Police Department into fraudulent physical inspections.

In October 2009, LSP detectives assisted the Hammond Police Department with a search warrant on First Gear Motorsports, a motorcycle parts dealership owned and operated by Buie. The search recovered several stolen motorcycles in addition to motorcycle frames that had the serial numbers ground off. Investigators were then led to a residence outside of the Hammond city limits where Buie had placed several vehicles. One of the vehicles, a GMC pick-up truck, had been stripped and the V.I.N. plate and door stickers had been removed.

Further investigation revealed the GMC truck had been registered in 2008 as a reconstructed vehicle by Buie under the name of First Gear Motorsports. A reconstructed vehicle is one in which a salvage title has been issued, usually because it sustained considerable damage in wreck, but was rebuilt. The registration process requires a physical inspection to be performed by a law enforcement officer. The purpose of the physical inspection is to identify the vehicle and ensure it is not stolen or the V.I.N. plate has not been switched.

According to Office of Motor Vehicle records, between March and April 2008, Buie registered the GMC truck and two other vehicles as reconstructed vehicles. An examination of these records questioned the legitimacy of the physical inspections that were submitted to the Office of Motor Vehicles. Further investigation revealed the physical inspections were not legitimate and had been forged.

The investigation concluded that Buie forged the physical inspections and used them to register three vehicles with the OMV. Based on the investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained and on January 28, 2010, Buie was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident. Buie was charged with 3 counts each of Forgery and Filing False Public Records and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish jail.

Forged and bogus physical inspections have been problematic in Louisiana. In 2009, legislators took steps remedy this problem. Legislation was passed requiring that all law enforcement officers wishing to conduct physical inspection undergo a certification process administered by the Louisiana State Police. This process will help account for the officers conducting physical inspections and help prevent and catch individuals using fraudulent physical inspections to register vehicles. The new legislation goes into effect on July 1, 2010.

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TFC Nick Manale
Public Affairs Unit Troop L
Louisiana State Police

Today the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals launched Health Care Assist Louisiana, www.HealthCareAssistLA.org, as a resource for those in the health care community wishing to provide aid to Haiti. The site serves as a single point of reference for health care workers, nonprofits and corporations throughout Louisiana who may wish to donate time, money, supplies or other resources via national and international relief organizations following the earthquake and related health crisis in Haiti.

“We have all seen the tragic images coming from Haiti, and nowhere is this more manifested than in the health care challenges they are facing,” said DHH Secretary Alan Levine. “One of the most important ways we can help as an agency is to provide access to resources for those who wish to participate in the recovery work. Health Care Assist Louisiana allows us to connect individuals with the ability to reach out and provide assistance.”

Health Care Assist Louisiana provides the health care community a list of agencies, organizations and corporations accepting financial and material donations, and volunteers for the recovery work in Haiti. Some of the resources include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center, the Center for International Disaster Information and the Clinton Foundation.

Health Care Assist Louisiana also includes a news section, which will be updated with the latest information on how the state is helping the recovery effort. A “Whos Helping” page provides an ongoing list of individuals, companies, agencies and nonprofits already engaged in the volunteer efforts who have reported their work to the state.

Last week, Secretary Levine offered the states health care resources to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Mark Cooper, Director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, also offered GOHSEPs assistance to FEMA — offering both physical supplies and assistance by registering with the national database.¡¡ Any state response will be at the request of the federal government and within the national disaster medical system plan.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens.

To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

JOSEPH BASEL, age 24; ROBERT FLANAGAN, age 24; JAMES O’KEEFE, age 25; and STAN DAI, age 24, were charged in a criminal complaint with entering federal property under false pretenses for the purpose of committing a felony, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

According to the complaint, which was unsealed earlier today, the arrest of FLANAGAN, BASEL, O’KEEFE, and DAI took place after BASEL and O’KEEFE attempted to gain access to the New Orleans office of United States Senator Mary Landrieu on January 25, 2010, while posing as telephone repairmen. According to the complaint, FLANAGAN and BASEL were each dressed in blue denim pants, blue work shirts, light green fluorescent vests, tool belts, and construction-style hard hats when they entered the Hale Boggs Federal Building, located at 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. Once in the building, FLANAGAN and BASEL sought access to the offices of Senator Landrieu. O’KEEFE was already present in the office, holding a cellular phone so as to record FLANAGAN and BASEL. Once inside Senator Landrieu’s reception area, FLANAGAN and BASEL told a member of Senator Landrieu’s staff that they were telephone repairmen, and they requested access to the main telephone at the reception desk. FLANAGAN and BASEL then manipulated the telephone system. FLANAGAN and BASEL next requested access to the telephone closet because they needed to perform work on the main telephone system. They were directed to the main office of the United States General Services Administration, also inside the Hale Boggs Federal Building, where they again represented themselves to be employees of the telephone company and stated that they needed to perform repair work in the telephone closet. Both FLANAGAN and BASEL stated that they had left their credentials in their vehicle. In addition, the complaint alleges that O’KEEFE and DAI assisted FLANAGAN and  BASEL in the planning, coordination, and preparation of the operation. The men were apprehended by the United States Marshal’s Service soon thereafter.

If convicted, FLANAGAN, BASEL, O’KEEFE, and DAI each face a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The United States Attorney’s Office reiterated that the complaint is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation is being conducted by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Deputy Marshals with the United States Marshal’s Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.

In an address to 500 members of the capital area business community today at the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Leadership Power Breakfast, Governor Bobby Jindal continued to lay out his vision for facing the state’s long-term budget challenges and ensuring Louisiana’s economy continues to outperform the South and nation.

Recounting numerous statistics that show the strength of Louisiana’s economy in the past two years, Governor Jindal said the results are not an accident, instead they are the result of his administration’s concerted and unwavering effort to grow the state’s economy by keeping taxes low, reducing government spending and providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed in a global economy.

Governor Jindal said, “I have said that we will not raise taxes and we will not do anything to threaten the continued economic growth of our Louisiana businesses. We know our approach to protect our economy is not politically expedient. This is a long-term approach for the health of Louisiana’s future.

“Some may argue that it is easier to pass the bill onto the Louisiana taxpayers and refuse to make the hard decisions of how to make government live within its means. It would be much easier to just keep government spending the same and turn a blind eye to the economic realities we are facing. But, we will not do that. Our people deserve better. They deserve leaders that will put the needs of the taxpayers above the needs of government.”

Governor Jindal cited steps his administration is taking in the areas of health care and higher education to do more with less and still keep moving Louisiana forward.

Emphasizing federal reductions to the state’s healthcare funding that make up the largest part of the state’s budget challenges, the Governor highlighted an agreement he announced yesterday between LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital (OLOL) that will save the state money and transform the way healthcare is delivered in Louisiana.

The Governor said if the faulty federal FMAP formula is not quickly corrected in Washington, D.C., it will cost the state $500 million a year in Medicaid funding, which will impact services for the poorest in our state, and often those who need care the most. He also said that federal changes to disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding will cost the state around $200 million in federal health care funds, which will directly impact LSU hospitals, rural hospitals and mental health care services.

Governor Jindal said the state will make a $14 million to expand OLOL as part of a public-private partnership that will save the state $400 million by building onto existing facilities to better-serve Medicaid patients in Baton Rouge while improving the educational experience of LSU’s graduate medical school students.

The Governor called the agreement the first major step in addressing Louisiana’s healthcare challenges and he said it will shape the vision of what a modern, transformative system of care will look like in the state.

Governor Jindal noted that the state is working to transition the Louisiana Medicaid program from the current fee-for service delivery system to two integrated care models. One, he said, is an option for an enhanced fee-for-service Coordinated Care Network, and the other permits a Coordinated Care Network to choose to function as a prepaid integrated health network.

Governor Jindal said, “Our vision is designed around key principles like consumer choice, community leadership, aligned incentives for improved outcomes, and changing consumer behavior.

“The most important attribute is that our Medicaid enrollees can expect greater coordination of care between their primary physician and specialists required to manage chronic conditions and improve overall health.”

On higher education, the Governor emphasized that the state’s challenges are not solely about funding. He noted that in working with the Postsecondary Education Review Commission (PERC), the state has taken important first steps already in addressing the real challenges in Louisiana’s higher education system – achieving performance and results.

Governor Jindal said, “Too often, the debate on higher education loses sight of our number one concern – what is best for students. When we focus on students, we all agree that Louisiana’s second lowest graduation rate in the nation – at only 38 percent – must change. We can do better, and our students deserve to get the education they need to compete in today’s 21st century workforce.”

Governor Jindal said higher education officials should have more autonomy over their schools and students, but two goals must be met first. First, graduation rates must be improved, and second, the system must ensure that students are getting the specialization they need to succeed in the workforce.

Governor Jindal said, “As these two goals are met, we want higher education officials to have more autonomy over their schools. This means as they show improvement in strengthening student achievement and improve graduation rates, they are able to take more direct control over their fees, tuition and program decisions. We must all work together to focus higher education on achieving results for our students. I know we all agree that the higher education discussion isn’t about boards and structure and administration. at the end of the day, it must be about students.”

Governor Bobby Jindal announced today an historic, transformative agreement on a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership between Louisiana State University (LSU) and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center that will improve and expand access to health care services for the poor and enhance graduate medical education for Louisiana’s doctors, nurses and health care professionals. The agreement is now subject to approval by the boards of each organization. The Governor also announced the state has reached a tentative agreement with the federal government on two disallowances regarding Medicaid payments and have an update on the progress of the state’s Medicaid reform efforts.

Governor Jindal said, “Today, we are announcing an historic public-private partnership agreement between OLOL and LSU to create an enterprise with the infrastructure and resources to compete for outstanding students, provide high quality care, improve access for everyone in the region and embark upon major research opportunities.  This kind of agreement has never before been offered in Louisiana. It brings the best of our public system – our faculty, clinics and LSU training programs – together with an institution that is already one of our largest providers of care for the poor – Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.”

Jindal added, “The state will make a $14 million investment to expand services as part of this LSU-OLOL collaborative. This is in addition to the $24 million in funds LSU was already appropriated. As a part of the overall collaborative, OLOL is committed to spend at least $100 million in capital. This is not only an important investment because federal funding for LSU and Medicaid is being reduced, but this collaborative will improve and expand services for the poor while making LSU’s medical training program more competitive, and creating more jobs at OLOL and greater economic growth in Baton Rouge.”

Dr. Fred Cerise, LSU System Vice President for Health Affairs and Medical Education said, “Our careful evaluation of the collaboration has shown it has substantial benefits for Louisiana and our patients. The success of our educational programs is key to making this work. We have identified a platform at OLOL where the clinical activity and financial support can allow these programs to continue to thrive in their excellent traditions and where patients can have greater access to the services they need. The collaboration is also cost-effective in a fiscal environment that continues to evolve.”

“We believe this is a new model of care that accomplishes a great deal for our community. This collaboration ensures there are physicians continuing to be trained to take care of us, our children and grandchildren. There is still a great deal of work to be accomplished in the next two years and we are ready,” added OLOL Chief Executive Officer Scott Wester.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine said, “This agreement will certainly transform health care in Baton Rouge, and will improve care across the state as well. Medical residents will be afforded more opportunities right here in Baton Rouge, training our future doctors and nurses in a variety of medical fields that are not currently available at LSU, such as cardiovascular surgery. Residents throughout the Baton Rouge region will have easier access to quality care at a lower cost to the state – truly a win-win situation for everyone.”

Donna Ryan, MD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center said, “This is a landmark event for the medical care, medical education and medical research communities of Louisiana. This project will enable us to grow joint programs, building on Pennington’s national reputation for research in obesity, diabetes and cardiometabolic disease – the leading causes of chronic diseases in the US.  The project benefits Pennington Biomedical Research Center by providing opportunity to develop leading treatment programs and it benefits the medical faculty and medical trainees by giving them the access to Pennington’s research expertise.  It is all to the ultimate benefit of health for Louisiana citizens.”

Senator Mike Michot said, “Because of the hard work of the Jindal administration and the folks at LSU and Our Lady of the Lake, we’re going to have a health care system in the state that will save more lives and provide our sons and daughters with a better education. This agreement is an important step for the people of our area that will also provide the state a competitive edge when competing for business and industry and medical students.”

Rep. Jim Fannin said, “This is a win-win for the charity system, LSU and all of the citizens who benefit from these services. I’m appreciative of the efforts of Governor Jindal and his administration in working with all parties to create a deal that will not only save lives, but also save the state valuable dollars.”

Representative Hunter Greene said, “I am excited to see LSU and OLOL work together to become more efficient and streamlined in providing health care in the capital area. I will continue to do everything I can to help make this partnership work for the benefit of the patients, healthcare professionals, and the taxpayers of Louisiana. I believe this will be a positive move forward for all stakeholders.”

Rep. Bodi White said, “Our health care professionals already do a tremendous job at keeping our children and families healthy- and because of this partnership between Our Lady of the Lake and LSU, our doctors and nurses will have better tools and facilities to save lives. The new Level 1 trauma center will make Baton Rouge one of only three Level 1 trauma centers in the state, which will help save more lives in and around the Baton Rouge Metro Area. This agreement will give both patients and students invaluable resources that will also make Baton Rouge a top city for medical innovation, and attract even more people to our community.”

Rep. Erich Ponti said, “This agreement between LSU and Our Lady of the Lake will deliver a higher level of healthcare that will put our city and state on the cutting edge of advanced medical training. With the new level one trauma center and the opening of a new urgent care clinic, all of our citizens will have access to better trained physicians, new physician training programs and improved access to care that all of our citizens need. This partnership puts our city on the forefront of advanced medical training and healthcare services being delivered.”

Immediate Past Chairman of Blueprint Louisiana Sean Reilly said, “We are delighted that LSU and Our Lady of the Lake have reached an agreement to bring this new model of graduate medical education and health care to our state. It’s a wonderful opportunity to show that we can deliver health care differently—something we can replicate statewide. Much of our country has used this model for years and we’re glad we are finally using it in Louisiana for the benefit of our residents and our health care professionals.”

Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation John Spain said, “We are extremely pleased with the partnership between Our Lady of The Lake and LSU and are confident that it will provide access to high quality health care for all our citizens and world class training for our future physicians. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has devoted significant time and resources to finding a solution for the replacement of the Earl K. Long hospital and we are pleased to have played a role in bringing about this unique public/private partnership.”

BRAC’s President and CEO Adam Knapp said, “We are excited about the partnership between Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and LSU, which has the potential to create new economic growth, medical education, and research. It also has the ability to improve the quality of our region’s healthcare workforce and prevent duplication of valuable community resources.”

Six Major Steps in the Historic, Transformative LSU-OLOL Agreement:

1. First, for the first time in the history of the Baton Rouge region, a new Level One trauma center will be established at Our Lady of the Lake. Level One trauma centers provide the highest levels of emergency and trauma services around the clock, with the most experienced physicians.

According to the American College of Surgeons, Level One trauma centers provide tremendous opportunities for students in every aspect of medical science. The centers are required to keep trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician specialists, nurses, and resuscitation equipment immediately available 24 hours a day and lead the nation in advancing injury-related research and providing injury prevention services. The American Trauma Society says that organized trauma care systems can reduce the risk of death by more than 50 percent among those who are seriously injured.

Trauma centers are also an important piece of communities’ disaster preparedness efforts. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently conducted a survey that showed that more developed trauma systems enabled communities to be more prepared for day-to-day treatments and mass casualty events. Developed trauma centers are capable of having the surge capacity to respond to disasters, whether it’s an act of terrorism or an act of nature.

Louisiana currently has just two trauma centers, both Level One, and each operated by LSU. One is at Interim Hospital in New Orleans and the other is at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. There is currently no trauma center in the Baton Rouge region. In anticipation of additional patients under the agreement, OLOL also will construct facilities for and maintain at least 60 beds, as well as the new trauma center.

2. Second, LSU will open a new 24-hour, 7-day-a-week urgent care clinic in North Baton Rouge. The new clinic will adjoin the new LSU Health System North Baton Rouge Clinic, the state-of-the-art facility recently opened on Airline Highway. This step is a critical component of the agreement, as Louisiana has one of the highest rates of non-emergency use of emergency departments in the nation, and this new clinic will help direct patients to care in a more beneficial and less costly setting.  According to an analysis performed by LSU and OLOL, in FY 2008, 63 percent of the emergency room visits at Earl K. Long were non-emergent.

LSU will also enhance its current outpatient services at its Mid City, Perkins Road, and Leo Butler locations. Ambulatory surgery and clinic activity will also increase at the LSU Outpatient Surgery Center on Perkins Road.

3. Third, the agreement will greatly improve and expand access and services for the poor. Currently at Earl K. Long, many services, such as trauma, invasive cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery and urgent care, are not offered. In cases where services are not available, the patient either does not receive the service, or the patient must be transferred. Under the new partnership between OLOL and LSU, patients will receive a full complement of services with virtually every specialty available to treat them.

4. Fourth, the agreement will improve graduate medical education in the Baton Rouge region. A majority of LSU’s graduate medical education programs will be relocated to OLOL, even while they still gain tremendous experience in LSU’s established outpatient clinics throughout Baton Rouge.  At OLOL, medical residents and students will be exposed to a larger volume of patients and a more diverse caseload, and LSU will have the opportunity to broaden its scope of clinical faculty, particularly among specialists, to provide a more rich training experience. LSU residents’ increased access to new learning opportunities will enrich their time as a resident, and will attract even more medical students to Baton Rouge.

The medical education program improvements come at a critical time, as currently, 97 percent of Louisiana’s parishes are health manpower shortage areas and 25 percent of the state’s practicing physicians are over the age of 65.  Under this new agreement, there will be an estimated 325 residents training at the Lake in 110 slots. And this is expected to grow over time.

5. Fifth, the agreement establishes new academic and clinical buildings at Our Lady of the Lake and Baton Rouge will become home to a state-of-the-art, well-capitalized facility with modern technology. This will help the facility to not only meet accreditation requirements for hospital and residency programs, but to compete with some of the best academic enterprises in the country. Our Lady of the Lake will add additional space for educational use, to provide more common-area room and for at least 60 additional beds to accommodate the increased volume of patients and training. The new space will be fully integrated into the capacity of the entire OLOL hospital complex.

Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have confirmed that low volume hospitals, like Earl K. Long, face considerably more instability from year to year in demand for and cost of inpatient services than larger hospitals.

6. Sixth, the OLOL-LSU partnership will save the state more than $400 million that would have been required to build a new hospital. Under the agreement, LSU will continue to operate outpatient clinics at North Baton Rouge, Mid City, Perkins Road and Leo Butler. Further, LSU will keep all of its residency slots, even during the transition period to the new facility, and secure inpatient obstetrics and prisoner care at another location.

Additionally, the per-unit cost of services at Earl K. Long was found to be higher than    similar services at OLOL.

Also DSH funding has historically been used to help subsidize LSU’s graduate medical education program, but with the federal government’s reduction to DSH funding for LSU, this agreement will generate even more cost-savings by treating more patients from OLOL, which has a higher Medicare payer mix at the federal level than LSU’s current Earl K. Long facility. In fact, this is estimated to save the state several million dollars.

The Governor said that under the agreement, OLOL would also work in conjunction with the Capital Area Human Services District and LSU to maintain the current level of behavioral health services

The LSU Board of Supervisors will take up the new cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) for a vote at its January 29, 2010 meeting and OLOL’s boards and sponsors will begin to take up the CEA for votes beginning on January 27th. After LSU and OLOL approve the agreement, the Louisiana Legislature’s Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget must grant approval and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must approve an amendment to the Medicaid state plan.  The Department of Health and Hospitals and Division of Administration will approve funding, implementation and ongoing budget allocations for the collaboration laid out in the new agreement.

The Governor said under this agreement, the state will provide $14 million to LSU and OLOL to help support the new facilities and expand services as part of the collaborative. This is in addition to the $24 million in capital outlay funds LSU was already appropriated for a new facility. LSU will invest $20 million of that $24 million to help fund the collaborative and $2 million will be used to renovate and expand LSU’s outpatient surgery center on Perkins Road. Another $2 million in capital outlay will be used for the new around-the-clock Urgent Care Clinic in North Baton Rouge.

Settling Federal Disallowances

The Governor also announced today the state has reached a tentative agreement to settle two outstanding federal disallowances incurred by the state over the last decade. These disallowances total approximately $426 million and include the Road Hazard Disallowance and the Nursing Home Disallowance.

The Road Hazard disallowance involves the state’s self-insurance fund and was originally issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2005. HHS alleges the state improperly used federal funds to pay for claims, and the disallowance currently totals $310 million, including approximately $158 million in interest. State officials recently met with HHS representatives to negotiate settlement terms of the disallowance, and a tentative agreement was reached that would provide for a lower interest rate, a longer repayment period, and a delayed first payment. The tentative agreement reduces the disallowance to the original base amount of approximately $150 million, a more than 50 percent reduction in the total disallowance.  The interest has also been reduced to one percent from February 22, 2005 through January 31, 2010.

The Nursing Home disallowance involves $116 million in Federal Financial Participation-related to payments made to non-state government owned nursing homes as part of an Intergovernmental Transfer between the state and these homes between 1999 and 2001. The settlement terms on the disallowance set an interest rate of 1.82 percent with repayment over a year period of four or five quarters. As similar appeals by other states have been rejected, DHH was advised to settle outside of the appeals process, and will seek approval of the JLCB to transfer funds from the Elderly Trust Fund, which currently holds nearly $800 million, to the State Treasury to begin payments in March 2010.

Progress on Medicaid Reform Efforts to Improve Care

Governor Jindal also announced today that the state is moving forward in its work to improve the Louisiana Medicaid program. The Governor has proposed creating coordinated systems of care in Louisiana Medicaid to improve the current fragmented, fee-for-service system, which has been decried by virtually every national health policy expert covering the entire political spectrum as a failed system that incentivizes waste and overspending.

Our Lady of Lake and LSU are among the first organizations to agree to partner under the new, reformed system, a critical step because OLOL is one of the largest providers of  pediatric physician services in the state. With LSU and the Lake physicians working together in all their facilities, they have the opportunity to develop a truly integrated system of care for the Medicaid program. An increased focus on coordination of care – particularly in primary, specialty and preventive care – is a necessary component to improving overall health outcomes for Louisiana. Coordination can also equate to less strain on the state budget as it will reduce Louisiana’s extremely high rates of avoidable hospital stays and readmissions.

The new integrated system will be designed around the key principles of transparency, consumer choice, community leadership, aligned incentives for improved outcomes, changing consumer behavior and the reduction of fraud and waste. The most important benefit will be to the Medicaid enrollee who can expect greater coordination of care between their primary physician and any specialty needs a patient may require management of chronic conditions, better health and higher satisfaction in their care.

Since the state has reached agreements with the federal government on disallowances worth hundreds of millions of dollars, it will now be submitting a state plan amendment instead of its original waiver request for expanding Medicaid and improving health care services.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal proclaimed the week of January 25, 2010 as “Who Dat Nation Week” in the state of Louisiana.

WHO DAT NATION WEEK PROCLAMATION:

WHEREAS, yesterday was a magical moment for the city of New Orleans.  It was 43 years in the making and served as a resounding statement for a recovering city, region and fanbase; and

WHEREAS, coming off last night’s NFC Championship, Coach Payton, Drew Brees and the rest of the team will be focused for the next two weeks on accomplishing their mission since day one of training camp – a world championship; and

WHEREAS, the team will be the first to tell you their work is not yet done, however, there was one championship won last night; and

WHEREAS, with no home games left in the season, the Who Dat Nation won the championship last night for most loyal, compassionate, dedicated, passionate, outrageous and downright loud-as-heck fanbase in the league; and

WHEREAS, the Who Dat Nation has served as a 12th man on the field for the defense all year long, making the Superdome one of the most intimidating places to play; and

WHEREAS, through victory or defeat, the Who Dat Nation has stood behind this team in a way no one has ever seen; and

WHEREAS, whether you attended every home game this year, some of the games or simply rooted on the Saints in your living room, the fans of the Saints deserve praise at the conclusion of their “Superdome Season.”

NOW THEREFORE, I proclaim this week, the week of January 25, 2010 as “Who Dat Nation Week” in the State of Louisiana to commemorate the season-long  performance by the New Orleans Saints’ fanbase at the conclusion of the Superdome Season. I also challenge the Who Dat Nation to make an encore performance in Miami at the Super Bowl so that South Florida can see firsthand how amazing our fanbase is. This special team deserves to be surrounded by Who Dats on February 7th.

The state’s unemployment rate in December was 7.5 percent, returning to levels seen for most of the second half of 2009, the Louisiana Workforce Commission announced today.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate is tied for 14th lowest in the nation and third lowest in the Southern region. The Southern region rate for December was 9.6 percent, and the U.S. rate was 10 percent. Louisiana was one of 43 states and the District of Columbia with over-the-month unemployment increases.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in July, September and October, 7.8 percent in August and 6.7 percent in November.

“The trend shows a fairly even picture going back to July 2009, and it shows we’ve consistently outperformed the nation and the South,” said LWC Executive Director Curt Eysink.

The New Orleans metropolitan statistical area (MSA) led the state with an increase of 1,500 nonfarm jobs over the month.

Louisiana’s civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – for December 2009 was 2,049,802, down 5,294 from November revised figures. Civilian labor force statistics are estimated from a residential-based sample survey by place of residence.

The state’s December nonfarm job total of 1,901,700 reflects an over-the-month decline of 5,900 jobs and a 2.4 percent drop over the year. Nationally, the number of jobs declined 3 percent over the year.

The educational and health services sector continued its growth trend, gaining 500 jobs over the month. Leisure and hospitality was up 500 jobs, and information was up 200 jobs. Those gains were offset by job losses in manufacturing, down 1,100 jobs; and trade, transportation, and utilities – which includes retail trade – which recorded a loss of 2,300 jobs. Retail trade experienced a loss of 200 jobs statewide, its first December decline in the decade. In addition, construction lost 1,600 jobs and three sectors each lost 700 jobs: professional and business services, government, and other services.

Nonfarm jobs are estimated from an employer-based sample survey by place of work.

Please see Page 2 for the full listing of MSA and parish rates. Parish unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

For more detailed information on December 2009 employment data for Louisiana, visit our Web site at http://www.LAWORKS.net and select Labor Market Information from the left-side menu. Then select Monthly Employment Bulletin – Workforce at a Glance or Monthly Employment Statistics Press Release for the latest monthly nonfarm and labor force data.