A Message from DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

After spending six weeks traveling the state and hearing from people like you, I learned that many of you had questions about our plan to improve the Medicaid delivery system in Louisiana. I understand the tremendous impact our system has on Louisiana's residents and health care providers. So, when we research and develop ways to transform our system, my approach is to engage as many people as possible in a transparent and collaborative way. Each of us plays a role in shaping the future of Medicaid in our state.

To further our dialogue about our plan for transforming Medicaid, we will host a Making Medicaid Better Forum from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center -- Conference Center in Baton Rouge.

The forum will present information from people with varying ideas about how to improve our Medicaid delivery system. Stakeholders and other interested parties will have several opportunities to ask questions and make suggestions about the Department's proposal for managing care for Medicaid enrollees. We will provide a live video feed from the meeting as technology permits for those who are unable to attend.

In the coming weeks, we will hold forums in every region of the state. The schedule for those regional meetings is available at www.makingmedicaidbetter.com/forums.cfm. Please check this site often for updates and information as details about the regional meetings are added.The Department also will send you a follow-up notice and reminder prior to each forum.

Our proposed reforms are significant changes that we firmly believe will allow us for the first time to break from the predictable path that produces poor health outcomes for our citizens. It is imperative that we move from that path together, and I look forward to our continued dialogue. We hope to see you at the forum on Nov. 17 and at the meeting in your region.

As always, if you have specific questions you would like us to address about our plans for coordinating care or any other matter related to DHH, please contact J.T. Lane at jtlane@la.gov or Omar Khalid at omar.khalid@la.gov, and we will be glad to help you. For up-to-date information about our efforts to improve Medicaid and about the forums, please check www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com frequently.

Sincerely,
Bruce D. Greenstein
Secretary, DHH