Louisiana is once again ranked 48th in the America’s Health Rankings Report for women and children. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (24) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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Forty-six percent of LSU Health of New Orleans graduating medical students have chosen to remain in Louisiana to complete their medical training. Kelley Ray tells us the number of grads deciding to stay continues to fall
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kelley Ray.”
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The LSU Board of Supervisors approves three merit scholarships to help attract students to the Baton Rouge campus. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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A report from America’s Health Ranking says the rates of maternal mortality and teen suicide have risen over the last two years in Louisiana. UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Peters says we are one of the worst states when it comes to taking care of expecting mothers.
Cut 4 (12) “other states.”
The maternal mortality rate increased 28 percent to 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017, while the infant mortality was down 11 percent. Teen suicides were also up seven percent. Peters says mental health is a nationwide issue that Louisiana in particular lags behind on.
Cut 5 (08) “our state”
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and West Virginia made up the five lowest ranked states. Peters says they all have something in common, low state healthcare funding.
Cut 6 (11) “state programs.”
The good news is that the uninsured rate for women 18-40 was down 34 percent. Peters attributes this to the Medicaid expansion in 2016.
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46 percent of LSU Health New Orleans graduating medical students participating in the National Resident Match Program this year chose to remain in Louisiana. That is down from 49 percent staying in state last year and 64-percent in 2012. Dr. Steve Nelson says it’s a trend that could cost Louisiana some great doctors…
Cut 7 (11) “not return.”
National studies find a high number of physicians set up their permanent practices in areas where they complete their residency program. Nelson says a decline of 18 percent in the last five years is a concern and it’s up to the legislature to provide a stable source of funding for higher ed…
Cut 8 (09) “to correct.”
Nelson says the future medical achievements and the new physicians that will fill our hospitals and medical practices come from Louisiana, not elsewhere…
Cut 9 (10) “at LSU.”
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Louisiana is two million dollars short on its funding for voucher students this year. The money is appropriated every June, and covers the cost of state students to attend charter and private schools, instead of public schools. Department of Education spokesperson Sydni Dunn says the state is short this year, and if more money isn’t appropriated next year, could be short by an even wider margin.
Cut 10 (08) “land aid.”
Dunn says if the legislature doesn’t come up with another two-million dollars to fill the shortfall for this academic year, schools that are educating voucher students would be on the hook to pay for their educational expenses.
Cut 11 (07) “other expenses”
The state’s voucher program is paid for by a special line-item appropriation in the budget. It currently enrolls 6,600 students statewide. Dunn says it’s possible money that funds public schools may have to be redirected to cover some of the costs of the voucher program for next school year.
Cut 12 (04) “these students”
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Despite talk of budget cuts to public colleges and TOPS, a record 23-thousand students have applied for entry at LSU for the academic year that starts in August. The school’s chief enrollment officer, Jose Aviles, says they hope for an incoming freshman class of 58-hundred, but TOPS funding is a factor…
Cut 13 (11) “for sure”
Aviles says it’s impressive LSU has so many applicants, especially considering there are fewer high school graduates. On Friday, the LSU Board of Supervisors approved three scholarships to help students choose LSU. Aviles says thousands of dollars are available to students who qualify for these scholarships
Cut 14 (08) “going to be us”
The Innovation Award would give Louisiana freshman up to 3-thousand dollars. The Tiger Excellence Award is for nonresident students who have ACT scores of 28 or 29 and then there’s the Transformation Merit Scholarship. Aviles says that’s for students who have a 26 or 27 ACT and those are students most universities are trying to attract….
Cut 15 (09) “want most”
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LSU faces Utah tonight in the second round of the NIT. The Utes are 20-11 on the season and Tigers Coach Will Wade says they are very good on the defensive end of the floor…
Cut 16 (14) “good team”
LSU has lost seven straight road games. Wade says his young team is still trying to learn to win away from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center…
Cut 17 (16) “a little bit”
Utah is led by senior point guard Justin Bibbins, who is averaging almost 15 points a game and he’s shooting 45-percent from three-point territory. They also have two six-foot-10 senior forwards, who are averaging in double figures. Wade on the Utah offense…
Cut 18 (15) “around the rim”
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LSU freshman right-hander Ma’Khail Hilliard gave up his first two runs of the season in the first inning, but that was it, as Hilliard pitched six solid innings to help the Fighting Tigers beat Missouri 7-5 in the rubber match of the three-game series. Mainieri is impressed with how Hilliard was able to bounce back….
Cut 19 (19) “on the mound”
LSU had 13 hits on Sunday. But they had a couple of runners thrown out on the base paths and made two errors in the field. Mainieri says it’s nice to take the series, but they have to play better to win on the road at Vanderbilt next weekend…
Cut 20 (20)” did wrong”