IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Krewe of Truth: "Louisiana Healthcare Groups Support GOEA-DHH Merger"

Monday, March 19, 2012  |  Contact: Meghan Speakes; (225) 342-1463 or (225) 241-0836 (cell)

"Louisiana Healthcare Groups Support GOEA-DHH Merger"
Krewe of Truth
March 19, 2011
Link

Healthcare groups, including the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Together Rx, Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the Advocacy Center of Louisiana, and the Medicare Rx Access Network, endorsed Governor Bobby Jindal's proposal to merge the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs and the Department of Health and Hospital's Unit on Aging.

In a letter, addressed to legislators, the groups said their primary concern was to provide a central entity to administer funds and services for seniors in Louisiana. They said they were comfortable with the merger because, in their opinion, the interests of Councils on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging will be protected and promoted. Click here to download the letter.

"While Councils on Aging (COAs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) play a key role serving seniors in their community, we recognize that those organizations have also faced challenges in providing services, including reductions in funding to the innovative and critical areas of pharmacy assistance, elderly protective services, and the one-stop shops initiated by Aging and Disability Resource Centers (LouisianaAnswers.com)," the letter reads.

"We also share concerns regarding the state's ability to meet the demands of the significant projected growth and diversity of the senior population while continuing to maintain separate systems.

"We support the continued role that COAs and AAAs will serve across our state and understand that under DHH's leadership and coordination, they will not only continue to be a trusted focal point for services, but also will be strengthened under a funding formula that closer tracks the seniors served through the fair use of census data to determine resource availability. Furthermore, we are encouraged by commitments from DHH's leadership to protect funding for COAs, AAAs and the areas they serve."

For more information, contact Cheron Brylski (504) 897-6110.

cheron brylski
the brylski company
3418 coliseum street
new orleans, louisiana 70115
cbrylski@aol.com
504.897.6110
504.460.1468 cell
504.897.0778 fax
www.brylskicompany.com