BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The state health department is grappling with an $81 million deficit.
The secretary of the health department outlined the problem Friday before the Legislature’s joint budget committee. He’s offering a list of suggestions for how to fill the gap.
Among the recommendations to lawmakers are to shift $65 million from other parts of the health care budget that weren’t expected to be spent. And Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine is recommending a $16 million state funding cut to hospitals and hospices.
The hospital cuts faced resistance from lawmakers.
Levine also says he expects an additional deficit caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
 
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