Governor John Bel Edwards
Office of the Governor
PO Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70
CC: Senate Finance Committee
To: Governor John Bel Edwards,
Re: House Bill 1
We are writing to express our grave concerns about the proposed cuts in funding to the W.O. Moss Memorial Health Clinic. Please veto this bill if it passes the legislature.
As you know, Governor Bobby Jindal privatized our charity care system and closed down W.O. Moss Memorial Hospital. The closure of this hospital has adversely impacted the lives and health of Calcasieu parish residents. As it is, the reductions affect many of us. Those who can travel to Shreveport, like myself, have to pay for drivers and other costs of travel in addition to making the difficult trip itself. Then, many are forced to pay to travel to other parts of the state. All of us who travel and pay both financially and through physical hardship do this because health care is how we stay alive. Our hospitals save our lives.
Closing down this clinic will remove the limited existing access to health care services, increase the cost to those who are already poor, including the elderly, disabled and families.
As lauded as has been the expansion of the petro chemical industry in Calcasieu, you know the increase in the sheer population of local residents has also increased the burden on our health care system, and we therefore require more health services, not less.
Sincerely,
Lanny Roy
President
A Community Voice
