LOUISIANA CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY REPORT HIGHLIGHT’S BOLD VISION WITH URGENCY FOR POLICIES TO IMPROVE STATE’S HEALTH OUTCOMES

Historically, Louisiana has struggled to improve its outcomes in education, incarceration, and health. A new report released today by the Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE) offers a glimpse into how the state has consistently ranked low, usually 49th or 50th in overall health outcomes and how the COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted alarming health disparities in Louisiana, and the increasing urgency for more equitable systemic practices and policies. The consequences of COVID-19 demand an immediate and appropriate response that centers and prioritizes the expertise and experiences of disadvantaged populations in decision-making processes.

Since its establishment in 2010, LCHE has been committed to bringing health equity throughout Louisiana by dismantling health disparities in the state caused by poverty, lack of access to quality health care and unhealthy environmental conditions. To continue its effort and further address these issues LCHE, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health-Office of Public Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, held its 5th annual Health Summit on March 3rd. Topics discussed during the summit included the progress and accomplishments of the current State Health Improvement Plan; key health indicators to move the needle toward improving Louisiana’s national health ranking; policies to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); and school health and education best practices to reduce disparities in education outcomes. The 2020 Health Summit: Advancing Health Equity for Children and Families report provides a summary of the summit and policy recommendations for improving Louisiana’s health outcomes.

The report details four recommendations for policy to improve health outcomes for women, children, and families. 

• Set a state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage
• Implement trauma-informed approaches and services for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
• Establish a state-run entity to coordinate a systematic approach to women’s health, such as an Office on Women’s Health
• Prioritize and adopt key America’s Health Rankings’ health measures as policy

 
These policies will directly and positively impact the state’s overall national standing according to America’s Health Rankings, and so will advance the state toward #LA40by2030, improving Louisiana’s rank to 40th by 2030.
 
“LCHE is celebrating our ten-year anniversary as we look toward the future; earlier this year we announced a bold vision for the next decade, namely #LA40by2030,” said Alma C. Stewart, president and founder of LCHE. “We are grateful for our role in Medicaid expansion that resulted in the vast majority of our uninsured residents being afforded health insurance coverage. While Medicaid expansion has had a significant impact on equitable access to healthcare, LCHE is committed to staying the course and working with our partners to help improve the state’s health outcomes and overall health rankings over the next decade,” says Stewart.

About Louisiana Center for Health Equity
Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE) works to address the increasing disparities in health and health care across Louisiana. LCHE represents the interest of health equity by promoting the elimination of health disparities caused by poverty, lack of access to quality health care and unhealthy environmental conditions with a focus on wellness and community health. LCHE is a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit organization with IRS status as a 501(C)(3) tax exempt public charity established in January 2010. LCHE is independently governed by a Board of Directors with a unique approach to improving community health through service to and for the people of Louisiana.
 
#LA40by2030
The declaration of #LA40by2030 marks the commemoration of LCHE’s ten-year anniversary. Through collaboration, education and advocacy for effective and proven programs and policy, LCHE has positively impacted the health care system both regionally and statewide. LCHE’s most notable achievement was the successful campaign to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana was organized by LCHE in 2013, and steered efforts to close the coverage gap by allowing low income, mostly working adults to obtain healthcare insurance through Medicaid expansion as authorized by the ACA. Through the campaign, LCHE collaborated with a diverse group of organizations and led the fight to expand access to healthcare for all Louisianans. On January 12, 2016, newly elected Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order expanding Medicaid in Louisiana. As LCHE looks toward the next decade, plans are underway for continuing collaboration with our partners and we invite those interested to join us and add your support.

lahealthquality.org

2020 Health summit video

2020 health summit report