Louisiana healthcare activists seek united voice on legislation

A coalition of healthcare advocacy groups is combining disparate voices to present what members tout as an enhanced consumer voice to elected officials, university authorities, and private sector leaders as they redesign Louisiana's medical provider system. The unnamed consortium includes, among others, the Louisiana Health Access Network, the Louisiana Justice Fund, the Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society's local chapter, the Louisiana Technology Council, and a local chapter of the Service Employees International Union. Marsaeh Delatte, spokeswoman for the group and a Health Access Network executive, said the new coalition is in the early stages of planning a series of public meetings across the state where they will educate Louisiana residents on the status of healthcare access and policy while surveying those attending about their views on the relevant issues.