Louisiana to redesign health care system
The state of Louisiana has unveiled a new public-private collaborative that will redesign its health care system in response to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The collaborative hopes to fund its efforts through a proposed large-scale Medicaid waiver and Medicare demonstration program.
Called the Louisiana Health Care Redesign Collaborative, it plans to submit its proposal to the federal government by October, focusing initially on the greater New Orleans area. Its charter outlines guiding principles and its goal of a health care system that offers high-quality, accessible, patient-centered care, delivered by ambulatory and community-based centers. John Matessino, president and CEO of the Louisiana Hospital Association and a collaborative member, called the effort "a wonderful opportunity to change some of the ways things have been done" in the state. He said the group is particularly eager to target New Orleans' soaring rates of uninsured residents and to find them medical homes.
Bariatric complication rates rise with time
According to a new study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, four of every 10 obesity surgery patients develop a complication within six months of leaving the hospital. That figure is 81% higher than the complication rate before discharge (22%).
The most common complications were dumping syndrome (20%), which includes vomiting, reflux, and diarrhea; complications resulting from the surgical joining of the intestine and stomach (12%); abdominal hernias (7%); infections (6%); and pneumonia (4%).
The study examined private insurance claims for 2,522 bariatric surgery patients under age 65 at 308 hospitals.
Spending for medical care averaged $36,542 for patients who experienced a complication up to six months after surgery, compared with $25,337 for patients without complications. These figures exclude radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists.
The state of Louisiana has unveiled a new public-private collaborative that will redesign its health care system in response to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The collaborative hopes to fund its efforts through a proposed large-scale Medicaid waiver and Medicare demonstration program.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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