The Louisiana Civil Service Commission has approved the privatization plans of four public hospitals within Baton Rouge-based Louisiana State University just days after it rejected the same plan, according to a report from The Advocate.
Commissioner Scott Hughes flipped his vote in favor of the plan, which would privatize 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. More than 3,500 hospital employees will be laid off as a result of the plan.
The group originally struck down the plan because the state did not provide enough financial information and details related to the potential takeovers. Commissioner Hughes told The Advocate he thought the LSU hospitals were doomed after the state passed its operating budget, which included no funding for the hospitals. He said regardless if the plan were approved or rejected, "I don't believe these [hospital] employees are going to be helped either way."
The four hospitals are expected to be shifted to private operators by the end of this month. Overall, 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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