The American Press is recommending a “no” vote on Constitutional Amendment No. 1 and a “yes” vote for Amendment 2 on the Nov. 4 election ballot.

Amendment 1 gives constitutional protection to the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust Fund. Nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled and community pharmacies are assessed a fee that is deposited into the fund, which serves as a state match to draw down federal dollars through the Medicaid program.

The Medicaid dollars are used to compensate the facilities for the care provided to those with low incomes and others qualified for Medicaid assistance. Funding for these facilities already accounts for 31 percent of the state’s total Medicaid budget.

If approved, the Public Affairs Research Council said the amendment would bring two major changes: the fund could not be raided for other spending purposes in the annual budget process or during mid-year budget cuts; and it would set a baseline compensation rate paid by the government to the health care services that pay a provider fee.

The American Press opposes the amendment because it could jeopardize community and home-based care that enables disabled persons to be cared for at community facilities or by their loved ones. Louisiana offers the Home and Community Based Services program, which allows the elderly and disabled to remain in their homes with the proper support services. If Amendment 1 passes, these services will be at the mercy of the Legislature for continued budget cuts.

The American Press supports Amendment 2. It creates the Hospital Stabilization Fund that would allow the state to draw down additional federal dollars for Medicaid. With approval from the federal Medicaid agency, this money would flow to the hospitals to compensate them for health care costs for treating those covered by Medicaid or the uninsured.

The fund would be protected in the constitution from attempts by the governor or Legislature to divert money to pay for non-health care programs. It also would provide assurances to hospitals that their investment into the care for Louisiana’s sick and needy will not be raided to fill holes in the state budget.

Hospitals are legally and morally bound to treat patients needing urgent care but could suffer losses treating Medicaid patients and the uninsured under the current financial system in Louisiana. The state’s community and private hospitals need a more reliable source of funding to fulfill their caretaker mission.

The nursing homes and other facilities in Amendment 1 have been treated well in the state budget, but the hospitals in Amendment 2 that are caring for uninsured patients have not been. That is why the American Press is recommending a vote against No. 1 and a vote for Amendment 2.(MGNonline)