B37AcV Uncategorized

Fighting for Medicaid Expansion

April 30th, 2013

Lanny Roy, President, A Community Voice protests Jindal Policies on Capitol Steps

Flanked by signs and posters with demands to Jindal to Expand Medicaid funding and Stop the Cuts-Save Jobs, Lanny Roy, Lake Charles resident and president of A Community Voice, spoke to a diverse crowd.  At its height, nearly 1000 residents rallied on the steps of the state’s capitol.  Mr. Roy, though fighting for his own life, with a condition brought on by working in chemical plants in Lake Charles, valiantly came to address the “Enough is Enough” rally.

Using a megaphone, while seated in a wheelchair, Mr. Roy addressed the crowd organized by Forward Louisiana. The new coalition is the most diverse of all to have protested on the capitol steps with member groups that range from community and labor organizations, to worker, disability, human rights and education health care advocates.  Roy told the crowd that A Community Voice had found Gov. Jindal insensitive and unaccountable, when he failed to respond to repeated requests to discuss the issues.

Interrupted by applause, Mr. Roy stated “I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the charity hospital system.  The other hospitals don’t do what Charity does.  Charity Hospitals are a Louisiana tradition that have lasted well over 200 years.   We need to keep our traditions”.

Meanwhile, inside the State Capitol, a banner was dropped by Forward Louisiana member that demanded to the legislators, “Take the Medicaid Money”  Shortly afterwards, a Senate Health Committee panel voted 4 – 3 to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. 923291_10152781114030352_253065054_n 934940_10152781117210352_792720691_n 935677_10152781109010352_1048650606_n 935780_10152781107805352_1879924408_n 941250_10152781110040352_1963184183_n 941830_10152781125460352_1162142823_n 943360_10152781109470352_760354783_n 944529_10152781108360352_1828450590_n 946863_10152781130770352_50143420_n

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
B37AcV Lake Charles

A Community Voice Calls for Medicaid Expansion in Louisiana

Dear Governor Jindal,

A Community Voice represents hundreds of thousands of working and low income families in Louisiana. We strongly support restoration of funds to allow the continued operation and services of the Louisiana hospitals that you have already have or plan to sell to private entities.

Further, A Community Voice believes that Medicaid expansion is the right choice for Louisiana and we urge you to reconsider your decision to reject this unprecedented opportunity to improve public health and grow the state’s economy. Medicaid expansion could provide health coverage to 400,000 Louisianans, most of whom are currently uninsured, and bring in billions of new federal dollars. It will benefit Louisiana’s families, businesses, health care providers and the economy—all at little cost to the state budget.

Sincerely,

Lanny Roy President

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail