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Senate’s bill changes raise alarm State hospitals warn of jeopardizing services
“States have gotten incredibly greedy about pulling down money from the federal taxpayer as governors and legislatures have decided to spend their own dollars on things besides Medicaid.”
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON — Representatives of Louisiana’s largest hospitals converged Tuesday on Capitol Hill after a Senate committee released its recommendations to squeeze more spending cuts out of Medicaid than the House did in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Louisiana’s hospitals are still evaluating the suggested Medicaid cuts, but a first read of the 549page bill released Monday night is not optimistic, said Paul A. Salles, president and chief executive officer of the Louisiana Hospital As-
SEN. BILL CASSIDy, R-Baton Rouge
sociation. “Unlike the House bill, which takes a more balanced approach to controlling Medicaid spending, the new proposal from the Senate Finance Committee includes devastating reductions that could jeopardize rural access, medical education and essential services
such as maternity care, children’s services, behavioral health and access to specialty care for patients across Louisiana,” Salles said Tuesday. The legislation, which includes most of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda, cleared the House by a single vote. It would
cut spending over the next 10 years by $1.6 trillion, mostly from Medicaid reductions, but add $2.4 trillion to the national debt, mostly from tax breaks. An estimated 10 million people would no longer be able to enroll in the state-federal program that pays for health care services for low-income Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Senators promised significant changes to the House-passed bill. Their suggestions go much further on Medicaid than the House by cracking down on strategies states have used to raise more money for their share of Medicaid, which brings in more federal “match” dollars. That would have the effect of transferring the costs
from taxpayers around the country to just those in a state. Officials from Louisiana’s largest health systems gave U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy an earful Tuesday morning, both Cassidy and hospital administrators in attendance acknowledged. “I’m very much conscious of the impact that would have on our providers back home, but that’s the setting in which this is occurring,” Cassidy said after meeting with Louisiana health care officials. The Baton Rouge Republican is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and chair of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee.
ä See SENATE, page 7A
HITTING THEIR STRIDE
LSU tops UCLA 9-5 in rain-delayed game to remain unbeaten in the College World Series LSU left fielder Derek Curiel passes in front of the Tigers’ dugout as he runs home to score against UCLA during Tuesday’s game of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. LSU won 9-5 to remain unbeaten and will play again at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
ä Complete coverage in Sports, 1C.
ATF agent among 2 wounded in BR shooting
Miguez enters Senate race against Cassidy
BY AIDAN MCCAHILL and QUINN COFFMAN
Staff writer
Then, Miguez appears and GOP state senator says, “I’m running for the U.S. Senate because Bill Casfrom New Iberia sidy sucks.” claims to be ‘the He also touts his deep Louisiana roots and showcases MAGA choice’ his skills as
BY ALYSE PFEIL
Staff writers
A federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent was injured during a shooting Tuesday afternoon outside the Triple S Food Mart on Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge police said. Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services transported the agent, along with another injured person. Both suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. It was unclear what caused the shooting and how many suspects were involved, but a massive police presence descended on the area shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. Louisiana State Police is leading the
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
A Louisiana State Police trooper walks through the crime scene near Triple S Food Mart at the intersection of Fairfields Avenue and North Foster Drive following a shooting that injured a federal agent on ä See SHOOTING, page 6A Tuesday.
WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 75 PAGE 8B
Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, announced his candidacy Tuesday for U.S. Senate, with an opening salvo targeting Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy’s vote to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial. The initial frames of a video announcing Miguez’s run for office show Cassidy labeled as a “RINO” — Republican in Name Only — as he says, “I voted to convict President Trump.”
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a competitive shooter, wielding various firearms throughout the video to metaphori- Miguez cally target concepts conservatives oppose, like “Marxism.” Miguez is also branding himself as “the MAGA choice” for the U.S. Senate. At the State Capitol, he has championed some hallmark conservative causes, including gun rights and anti-immigration policies.
ä See MIGUEZ, page 6A
100TH yEAR, NO. 353