In a strong bipartisan move, the Louisiana Legislature has passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 32 (SCR 32), a formal request to Congress to avoid cuts to the Medicaid program.
SCR 32 underscores the vital role Medicaid plays for over 1.6 million Louisianans — children, pregnant people, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families.
Some key facts from the resolution:
- Nearly 70% of nursing home residents in Louisiana rely on Medicaid for long-term care.
- Over half of births in the state are covered through Medicaid.
- Medicaid supports hospitals, community health centers, prenatal/postnatal care, and services in rural areas that would otherwise struggle to stay open.
The resolution warns that cuts at the federal level could have several negative effects:
- Loss of coverage for vulnerable people who lack any alternative care options.
- Increased uncompensated care burden for hospitals and providers, many of which are already under financial strain, especially in rural parishes.
The ripple‐effects: higher costs throughout the system, possibly higher insurance premiums, weaker health system stability.
SCR 32 passed unanimously in the Senate (35-0) and passed in the House with near-unanimity (84-7).
While the resolution doesn’t itself block cuts—federal action would be required—it serves as a critical signal from the state’s leadership that Louisiana values Medicaid not just as a budget line, but as a cornerstone of public health and community well-being.