Louisiana Public Broadcasting hosts
PBS Deliberation Day on Saturday, October 29

The November edition of Louisiana Public Square will be a By the People Special, presenting the highlights from the PBS Deliberation Day forum held in Baton Rouge on October 29.

The national discussion on healthcare centers on two questions:
1) how to control the rising cost of healthcare and
2) how to insure all citizens.

The dialogue on cost included the high price of

Participants give their opinions on the high cost of prescription drugs and healthcare.

prescription drugs and of emergency room and urgent care. The insurance discussion encompassed the uninsured and underinsured, the aging baby boomer generation, Medicare, and Medicaid. The three of the biggest local health issues are the very high number of Louisianans with no health insurance; the high rates of HIV/AIDS, and the large amount of money Louisiana spends (compared to other states) on institutional care for the elderly versus community care.

Small groups of citizens from Baton Rouge and Hammond, selected at random by the LSU Office of Policy Research, discused these issues and developed questions for a distinguished panel of experts.

Panelists — including Dr. Fred Cerise, head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; Teri Fontenot, CEO of Woman's Hospital; State Senator Jay Dardenne; and Roberta Madden, director of women’s health and public policy for the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge — answered questions formulated by the small groups.

Panelists for the Day of Deliberation Discussion were (Left to right) Dr. Fred Cerise, the head of the State Department of Health and Hospitals, Woman's Hospital CEO Teri Fontenot, State Senator Jay Dardenne of Baton Rouge and Roberta Madden, director of women’s health and public policy for the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge.

By the People Citizen Deliberation
Biographies: Panelists
Click for more information.

For more information, contact Bob Neese or Al Godoy at 800-272-8161 or 767-5660 in the Baton Rouge area.