[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6893026,"mediaKeyId","2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162","parentId",2903172,"title","Louisiana Department of Health requests FY26 Medicaid funding increases; MCO adjustment, physician rate bump and PBM costs draw scrutiny","audioSeconds",3746,"startMs",3744000,"endMs",7490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162&start=3744&end=7490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162/thumbnail_3744000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6893026/Louisiana/Louisiana-Department-of-Health-requests-FY26-Medicaid-funding-increases-MCO-adjustment-physician-rate-bump-and-PBM-costs-draw-scrutiny","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6893026-eda23821e8aab61e6c5da1a1575e4d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173417&Signature=RzyZIcz45bjuYfEya4ObbxDqSax8ycGbL-XCzsSOvawPiACgh0s5-KvhrvrJG4woChAGVgD9tUjWXTqhg1OI1SbawmxkUwPDrWQk5UFrkssGzW7SVmpAD-P77edEP3zr6Sq0UJzf8Fxn22X1q5xB6pbhXU1dUizOQnxpP50VylKpNc-Hk4yD6g-YgWJzMRUtiWSU7BEWV4t8Ve3BE6-SbfkaWu-z4R8jwwOz9EbctA1Npsm12i0O5jnhHR-x2QghNADs9tEiB3A3Rz8zpBjVc7e-ne2xfVhr9qU8s8niJsvBXSTDpVwFs8eyVE32wSkTMQ8JDTKpNoEXMKhj1tCvUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","This article was suppressed because of internal formatting; please see the other two articles for full coverage.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations Apr 8","oneSentenceSummary","LDH told the House Appropriations Committee the department’s FY26 total request is $21.4 billion, with Medicaid accounting for roughly $19.6 billion; LDH highlighted a large managed‑care adjustment (about $1.2 billion), proposed physician fee increases to 85% of Medicare for FY26 (with a plan to reach 100% in FY27) and flagged federal grant termin","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20967,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6085501,"DCFS seeks 125 frontline hires, paralegals and vehicle funding as foster homes and services expand",1305,1005000,2310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162&start=1005&end=2310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162/thumbnail_1005000.jpg","/articles/6085501/Louisiana/DCFS-seeks-125-frontline-hires-paralegals-and-vehicle-funding-as-foster-homes-and-services-expand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085501-d91e25ad13bb6097000d6551683135df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173417&Signature=RWuIuCRCFUulINC74CEahxPO2Nc~IYasaVWWVEtIc-eZIVM18ywRdk0-erAqv4rOAn3w6HcUub4bna~vUfoIkIQBat-VLfVdoFVmbWnolJ1fqhanvnJTjr2swr4UGOB86xqDLjga0F7XXzTE8U-VgpTittl4Rd49NACnZ~o57Hry1f2ACmRQWJEEwI-EtXg5Ff-X-9iAFRfUUcaeImgK7riEXrM1mwGiSt5mTUTxw1aA5q6~zFNLAhcw~gChxUy0cUcpd2njLr750T11a2oTI6aOW2mNA7KltbQeAdt0y2cHFAGgb04jmrjbcxMuOo~4-rmVsQONUZ30~PlqF~M3TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BATON ROUGE, La. — Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) leadership told the House Appropriations Committee on April 8 that the agency had made measurable progress on foster placement availability but faces continued shortages in frontline staff and funding for key services.

Judge Brandon Matlock, DCFS secretary, told the committee that foster‑home capacity rose from 749 to 913 over the most recent reporting year and that, at the time of the hearing, there were no children living in office space or hotels for lack of placement.

“That's a big deal,” Matlock said, noting agency efforts to expand foster and congregate placements and to stand up support programs for foster families.

Nut graf: DCFS officials asked the committee to fund targeted increases to stabilize child‑welfare operations: 125 new full‑time frontline TO positions to handle caseloads, 18 paralegals to relieve legal paperwork burdens on caseworkers and attorneys, replacement vehicles to support home‑visits and funds to update foster‑care rate setting. Committee members also pressed officials on SNAP/TANF fraud recovery and vacancy and turnover trends affecting child welfare staff.

Key budget and program items presented or requested by DCFS leadership and staff:
- Fiscal 2026 request snapshot: DCFS presented a $1.0 billion total FY26 recommendation across divisions, with state general and federal funding braided across programs (Child Welfare and Family Support prominent in the presentation). The department reported 3,753 authorized positions and 295 vacancies as of Dec. 30.
- Frontline staffing: Matlock said DCFS needs 125 new TOs to bolster child‑welfare caseworkers and immediate supervisors so new hires can be supervised; he estimated the state‑general fund cost at $10,000,000 (with federal match noted in testimony). Matlock said 20 of the new TOs would be frontline child‑welfare workers and five were for congregate care implementation.
- Legal support: DCFS asked for 18 paralegal positions to free caseworkers and attorneys from routine document prep and to permit lawyers to provide training for field staff. Matlock described the ask as intended to let frontline workers focus on cases rather than paperwork.
- Vehicles and rate setting: The department requested 45 replacement vehicles for Child Welfare (citing high mileage and maintenance costs) and about $744,000 state dollars and roughly $1.1 million federal dollars for rate‑setting work and adjustments to foster/congregate placements and program rates that have not been updated since the 1990s.
- Domestic violence shelters: Matlock told the committee DCFS welcomed the governor’s commitment to fund domestic violence shelters and would support an additional $7 million in state money if needed; he said a total of $10 million could be justified depending on federal actions and partner contributions.
- Audits and findings: Matlock acknowledged audit findings the department received in the prior year and said internal efforts had caught issues including a Monroe area fuel‑card anomaly that was reported to auditors and law enforcement. He stressed corrective actions and said time‑statement (timecard) findings were being aggressively addressed with leadership outreach and changes.
- Fraud and SNAP recovery: Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory summarized fraud‑recovery work in family support programs. The department reported about $2.0 million collected in SNAP recovery actions over the prior year and a total claim value around $6.2 million; a statutory dedication (fraud detection fund) balance shown in the presentation was $724,294. Guillory said investigators and recovery staff (roughly 40 employees split between investigations and recoveries) pursue data matches and tip lines to find unreported income or household composition changes.

Representative Hughes and others questioned how quickly DCFS can fill vacancies and how hiring‑freeze exemptions would be sought. Matlock said the department will request exemptions for child‑welfare vacancies judged essential and is preparing individualized justification for the administration.

Ending: The committee pressed DCFS for more granular numbers and pledged to consider the agency’s staffing asks as the FY26 appropriation process continues. Matlock said the department would provide follow‑up material, including detailed vacancy lists and documentation of program outcomes tied to requested positions.

Speakers quoted or on the record: Judge Brandon Matlock (Secretary, DCFS); Rebecca Hook (Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare); Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory; Rep. Hughes (questioning).","At a House Appropriations hearing Secretary Judge Matlock outlined progress in foster home recruitment and detailed DCFS FY26 budget requests: 125 frontline positions ($10M state), 18 paralegals, 45 replacement vehicles and rate setting funds; lawmakers and staff also discussed fraud recovery and SNAP claim totals.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6085505,"House Appropriations hears budget for LSU Health Care Services; Lolli Kemp accounts for most operating dollars",266,106000,372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162&start=106&end=372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2903172-9d703ad20c401a0a3763294189640162/thumbnail_106000.jpg","/articles/6085505/Louisiana/House-Appropriations-hears-budget-for-LSU-Health-Care-Services-Lolli-Kemp-accounts-for-most-operating-dollars","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085505-71d9858c4c5d3c6e06848aedfca62f19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173417&Signature=cTJ15vyZHjOHhtFoGorl2P5B3JwxPCX6irICLtI14iL4ne26jq5HzI-BjG1kTVifD0F20TSdZ38gvFt2Vb0Hj97sE5aLFkvmMLutZiKTS0HMp50qQQ5vYqkpOf1Ce5cdvp0WkqpQ-hpe6UB9ELL1Kx3yFC6C7RDWPMAsbvCowvSN177nPSwN0hTGx5x0ST2c-eYNefmVMhGPS8oy5K2Eis9hOChrADxPg8r7POwvYJ3jqhpxUvbb--JyxW9UjP9~LmVd2tOZCe8H0GUXtFuvovQNbLAkSReN3-vm-Enin6ntByueZ2ejmtB9yIN83qDc8g73DXYhFdALEkvVOucpBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BATON ROUGE, La. — The House Appropriations Committee reviewed the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division budget for fiscal 2026 on Tuesday, hearing that the division is asking for $73.6 million and that a large share goes to one rural hospital.

Julie McGee, a budget analyst with the House Fiscal Division, told the committee HCSD’s FY26 request totals $73,600,000 and that roughly 34% of the request is state general fund, with self-generated revenue and fees making up about a third. She said legacy costs tied to formerly privatized hospitals remain a significant state burden.

“The fiscal year 26 budget in House Bill 1 for HCSD is 73,600,000,” McGee told the committee. “You’ll see that 34% of the budget is state general funds largely associated with the legacy cost of the privatized hospitals.”

Nut graf: The committee’s questions focused on how much of HCSD’s request actually supports Lolli Kemp Hospital, a 24‑bed rural acute facility in Independence, and on workforce issues at the hospital and HCSD central administration. Lawmakers also sought clearer detail on legacy costs such as retiree group insurance and on the hospital’s payer mix.

The HCSD presentation said about $55 million of the $73.6 million would be used to operate Lolli Kemp. Lisa Bruhl, identified in the record as CEO of Lolli Kemp, told the committee the hospital carries a heavy outpatient caseload — roughly 91,000 outpatient encounters a year — and that turnover spiked after the COVID pandemic but has since moderated.

“We have right around 100,000 outpatient encounters each year,” Bruhl said. “We do focus quite a bit on outpatient and emergency department as well.”

Committee members pressed on the division’s vacancy and turnover numbers. Bruhl told lawmakers Lolli Kemp was advertising 11 vacant positions at the time of the hearing. McGee also reviewed a HCSD slide that projected $14 million in legacy retiree group insurance costs for FY26 — a number the Fiscal Division said has declined as legacy members age off the rolls.

Other details presented to the committee included:
- HCSD’s five‑year spending history showed near‑flat growth, averaging 1.9% annually from FY20–24.
- Funding sources for FY26: reported state general fund of $25.1 million, interagency transfers of $19.0 million (including LDH Medicaid reimbursements and Department of Corrections prisoner care), self‑generated revenue of $24.1 million, and federal funds of $5.4 million.
- Expenditure profile: salaries and related benefits were budgeted at about 43% of HCSD expenditures and “other charges” at about 30% (other charges include retiree benefits, outside medical services and risk management premiums).

Committee members asked HCSD to provide a more granular, hospital‑level breakdown showing operating costs specific to Lolli Kemp (inpatient, outpatient, ED, and ancillary services) to better understand the roughly $55 million figure. Representative Amadei pointed out a simple per‑bed division suggested a very high per‑bed cost and asked for patient encounter detail to explain the budget.

In response, Bruhl and staff emphasized Lolli Kemp’s outpatient volume and said legacy administrative costs for the former hospitals — including retiree insurance and record management — drive much of the state general fund share HCSD carries.

Ending: Committee members requested follow‑up materials including (1) a hospital‑level cost and volume breakdown for Lolli Kemp, (2) a list of current HCSD vacancies and which posts the division considers mission‑critical, and (3) a clearer line‑item explanation of legacy cost components and recent trends in retiree rolls.

Speakers quoted or on the record: Julie McGee, House Fiscal Division; Lisa Bruhl, CEO, Lolli Kemp; Representative Amadei (questioning).

Topics: HCSD budget, Lolli Kemp operations, hospital payer mix, turnover.","House Fiscal staff told the Appropriations Committee the LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD) FY26 request is $73.6 million, with roughly $55 million attributable to Lolli Kemp hospital; members pressed HCSD officials on turnover, vacant positions and payer mix.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Louisiana Department of Health requests FY26 Medicaid funding increases; MCO adjustment, physician rate bump and PBM costs draw scrutiny

DCFS seeks 125 frontline hires, paralegals and vehicle funding as foster homes and services expand

House Appropriations hears budget for LSU Health Care Services; Lolli Kemp accounts for most operating dollars