School-based Health Centers Face Budget Cuts (LA)
October 8, 2010
Budget cuts were the topic on everyone’s lips Thursday at an advocacy meeting for the Louisiana Assembly on School-Based Health Care, hosted by St. Francis Medical Center.
With a projected $2 billion budget deficit creating a sense of uncertainty, Sen. Bob Kostelka and state Reps. Bubba Chaney, Sam Little, Kay Katz and Frank Hoffmann were in attendance to address school-based health care coordinators’ concerns.
"We don’t have many options. It’s safe to say that we will support the concept," Hoffmann told the crowd. "I think, at this point, we’re thinking about cutting everything."
Cindy Bishop, a registered lobbyist, explained that the $25 billion state budget has been allowing $10 million for the 67 school-based health centers around the state to share.
Like all other areas of the state budget, they now face a possible 35 percent cut.
Bishop said school-based health care clinics are sometimes children’s "only access to health care."
These clinics provide primary and preventive health care, mental health and dental services and referral to specialty care.
Bishop said t hese clinics are vital because they cut down on absenteeism and keep parents from having to consistently take off work.
Bishop said program coordinators and others associated with the units must continue to be innovative and talk to other states that have undergone budget cuts with their school-based health units.
She also stressed that those involved with the centers share their stories with lawmakers, so they know the importance the units play in communities throughout the state.
"There’s no way to cut $2 billion and have an area that is not affected," Bishop said.
Katz said the legislators will keep the cause in mind, but that because of the size of the deficit the direction the cuts will go is up in the air.
"Nothing is definite," Katz said. "It’s very difficult to plan when you’re not sure where you’re going to be. It’s stifling the entire country. Everyone has kind of shut down, and revenue is not coming in."
Katz encouraged the crowd to speak up for the programs.
"Be an advocate for what’s working," Katz said. "You all know what’s working and what’s not. Help us out."
Hoffmann echoed Katz and said he has "great confidence in Gov. Bobby Jindal and Paul Rainwater.
"All areas are saying ‘don’t cut me,’ and the problem is we have an income problem," Hoffmann said. "We are past cutting into the fat. We’re now cutting into the muscle and down to the bone marrow."