Special Analyst Report Provides Current Status of Top Healthcare Priorities

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HealthLeaders- InterStudy, a leading provider of healthcare market intelligence, finds that one year after Hurricane Katrina, the outlines of healthcare recovery are finally emerging for New Orleans residents and stakeholders alike. According to Raising the Bar of New Orleans Healthcare, a special analyst report on Louisiana's healthcare reform proposal, Governor Kathleen Blanco's recent proposal for redesigning the state's healthcare delivery and financing recently submitted to the federal Department of Health and Human Services is the foundation to starting over in this healthcare market.

"The proposal recommends expanding coverage to decrease the uninsured rate, initially in four affected New Orleans parishes and eventually statewide," states Patrick Powers, market analyst for HealthLeaders- InterStudy. "The key components of a redesigned healthcare delivery system available to all New Orleans residents include medical homes, electronic medical records and standards of quality healthcare."

The city's experiences since Katrina have created overwhelming healthcare challenges for the city's remaining residents, especially the uninsured, physicians and hospitals. The percentage of local population without health insurance has climbed dramatically; physicians remain indecisive about whether to return or stay; charity hospitals have closed, forcing private facilities to assume a greater responsibility for uncompensated care; and the pre-Katrina payor mix of governmental and commercial reimbursements is in disarray as the population of commercially insured has declined and government programs have not filled the financial void on a permanent basis.

Contained within this special analyst report is an account of the current status of New Orleans' five healthcare priorities and how the state's healthcare reform plan addresses each issue. These five healthcare priorities include:

1. Delivering and financing healthcare for the area's growing uninsured population

2. Retaining physicians in New Orleans

3. Expanding local medical education to prepare new physicians capable of dealing with the city's future healthcare needs

4. Assessing the city's need for hospitals and other healthcare facilities

5. How New Orleans healthcare reform develops and its effect on the nation's approach to universal healthcare delivery and financing.

A copy of Raising the Bar of New Orleans Healthcare can be downloaded by visiting www.healthleaders-interstudy.com.

In addition to this analyst report, HealthLeaders-InterStudy has released the New Orleans Market Overview report, which provides a detailed analysis of the local healthcare market, including an in-depth focus on health systems and hospitals, physicians, health plans, Medicaid/Medicare/uninsured, pharmacy, legislation and employers. For more information on this topic or to purchase this market overview report, please visit us online at www.healthleaders-interstudy.com.

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Source: HealthLeaders-InterStudy

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