La. health department $81 million short
04:03 PM CDT on Friday, September 26, 2008
Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The state health department is grappling with an $81 million deficit.
The secretary of the health department outlined the problem Friday before the Legislature's joint budget committee. He's offering a list of suggestions for how to fill the gap.
Among the recommendations to lawmakers are to shift $65 million from other parts of the health care budget that weren't expected to be spent. And Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine is recommending a $16 million state funding cut to hospitals and hospices.
The hospital cuts faced resistance from lawmakers.
Levine also says he expects an additional deficit caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
