WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsThousands of patients left to find new medical care after budget cuts

Thousands of patients left to find new medical care after budget cuts

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BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

It looks like the world is about to change in a big way for many people who rely on the LSU doctors for their medical care, and they can blame it on budget cuts that amount to $34 million.

The board of supervisors made the cuts official Friday afternoon. For thousands of Medicaid patients, it will mean finding new doctors or new places to get their health care.

LSU facilities, like Earl K. Long are cutting beds and services. EKL is cutting six of its 25 emergency room beds. ICU beds will also be cut. They're also eliminating its child care department, which LSU says will displace about 4,600 kids. The same thing is happening at Lallie Kemp in Independence.

LSU says the cuts will affect 645 employee positions statewide. It is not clear how many health care workers will be laid off because not all of those positions are filled right now.

The cuts come after DHH used federal money to reimburse the state for health care to Medicaid patients to help balance its budget. LSU says it needed money to maintain services and continuing medical education.

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