Louisiana Health Care Advocates Withdraw Support for $3.5M Federal Elder Care Grant Proposal

Louisiana health care advocates "yanked their support" from a federal grant application that would provide the state with $3.5 million to help seniors and the disabled after learning that the state Department of Health and Hospitals had made "last-minute changes" to the proposal, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. The grant would allow the state to "move away from relying too much" on nursing homes, instead shifting patients to home and community-based care. According to advocates for seniors and the disabled, the grant application "downplays" long term care problems in Louisiana, which is facing a federal lawsuit, Barthelemy v. Louisiana, accusing the state of unconstitutionally institutionalizing "too many" residents in nursing homes. State DHH attorneys "apparently are afraid to admit the seriousness of the problem" because of the suit, Patti DiMichele, director of the Louisiana chapter of AARP, said. State DHH Secretary David Hood said that state officials modified the proposal language describing Louisiana's long term care problems, "but not substantially." In addition, advocates said that the state made revisions to the grant application "after nursing home industry meddling." Kay Marcel, an advocate for the developmentally disabled, said that Louisiana Nursing Home Association Director Joe Donchess received "privileged access" and had "undue influence" on the language in the grant application, adding, "There were ... substantive changes in the proposal submitted at the behest" of the association. DiMichele added that Donchess met with state DHH officials in a "closed-door meeting" to discuss the application, which "tells me there is great risk that the industry in going to control the grant." Hood denied the allegation and accused advocates of "overreacting." Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) urged advocates to support the grant application, concluding, "Without the advocates' support, it makes it difficult for Washington to approve applications" (Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate, 8/6). For further information on state health policy in Louisiana, visit State Health Facts Online.