The Louisiana Civil Service Commission has voted down Baton Rouge-based Louisiana State University's plans to privatize four hospitals due to a lack of information on why the privatization is occurring at all, according to an Advocate report.
Privatizing Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans (also known as Interim LSU Public Hospital), University Medical Center in Lafayette, Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma and Walter O. Moss Regional Medical Center in Lake Charles would result in layoffs for roughly 3,000 state employees. The Civil Service Commission weighed in on the decision because the agency looks at issues that involve outsourcing jobs, according to the report.
LSU officials plan to persuade the commission to change its mind by June 24, when the four hospitals are expected to be turned over to their private operators. Michael Kaiser, CEO of LSU Health Care Services Division, told The Advocate that LSU's public hospitals will not have enough money to operate as of July 1, so if the Civil Service Commission doesn't approve the plans, "we would need to figure out what other action we would have to take."
Gov. Bobby Jindal expects to privatize nine of LSU's 10 hospitals. Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center in Independence is expected to be the only hospital within LSU to remain a public entity.
Privatizing Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans (also known as Interim LSU Public Hospital), University Medical Center in Lafayette, Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma and Walter O. Moss Regional Medical Center in Lake Charles would result in layoffs for roughly 3,000 state employees. The Civil Service Commission weighed in on the decision because the agency looks at issues that involve outsourcing jobs, according to the report.
LSU officials plan to persuade the commission to change its mind by June 24, when the four hospitals are expected to be turned over to their private operators. Michael Kaiser, CEO of LSU Health Care Services Division, told The Advocate that LSU's public hospitals will not have enough money to operate as of July 1, so if the Civil Service Commission doesn't approve the plans, "we would need to figure out what other action we would have to take."
Gov. Bobby Jindal expects to privatize nine of LSU's 10 hospitals. Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center in Independence is expected to be the only hospital within LSU to remain a public entity.
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