Indigent Hospital Shortage Could Cause Health Care Crunch in New Orleans

Published on:
12 September 2006 at 10:21 a.m. ET

Written by: Unknown Author –

http://www.insidearm.com/news/00013316-indigent-hospital-shortage-could-cause-he/

The effects of Hurricane Katrina are still being felt, mostly by New Orleans poor and indigent community members. Prior to Katrina, the desperately poor could seek medical attention at one of the state?s charity hospitals. However, as reported today in USA Today, the hurricane destroyed the city?s two indigent-care hospitals, and the strain is proving almost fiscally overwhelming for New Orleans?s hospitals.

Some hospitals are reporting losses of up to $70 million ? mostly attributable to uninsured citizens needing medical attention. The city is showing an almost 25 per cent increase in uninsured patients.

You can read more about this story at Hospitals in New Orleans see surge in uninsured patients but not public funds.