Anderson for Louisiana

Expanding Healthcare Access in Louisiana

Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of a strong, thriving Louisiana. Yet too many families across our state still face barriers to care, whether due to high costs, limited availability of providers, or geographic challenges in rural areas. Expanding healthcare access is not just about addressing a moral obligation—it’s about building a healthier, more productive Louisiana.

If elected, this is how I’ll fight to expand healthcare access:

  1. Expanding Medicaid:
    • Maximize Medicaid expansion under federal law to cover more working families and vulnerable populations, ensuring no one is forced to choose between medical care and paying the bills.
    • Streamline enrollment processes and outreach efforts to ensure eligible residents are aware of and can access the coverage they deserve.
  2. Strengthening Rural Healthcare:
    • Invest in expanding rural healthcare facilities, including providing grants to open or sustain critical access hospitals and clinics in underserved areas.
    • Use state funding and incentives to attract healthcare providers to rural communities, including loan forgiveness programs for medical professionals who commit to serving in these areas.
  3. Enhancing Access to Preventive Care:
    • Expand state funding for preventive services, such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, and chronic disease management, which lower long-term healthcare costs and improve outcomes.
    • Support the establishment of community health worker programs that connect residents with preventive services and help them navigate the healthcare system.
  4. Improving Maternal and Child Health:
    • Increase funding for maternal health programs to reduce Louisiana’s alarmingly high rates of maternal and infant mortality.
    • Expand access to prenatal and postnatal care for all women, regardless of income or geographic location.
    • Support initiatives like nurse-family partnerships that provide guidance and care to new parents, helping children and families thrive.
  5. Building Mental Health and Addiction Services:
    • Invest in a statewide mental health network, including funding for crisis centers, mobile response teams, and expanded telehealth services.
    • Increase access to addiction treatment programs, including medication-assisted treatment, to combat Louisiana’s opioid epidemic and other substance abuse challenges.
  6. Leveraging Innovation and Telehealth:
    • Expand broadband internet access to rural and underserved areas to support telehealth services, ensuring all Louisianans can access care without traveling long distances.
    • Incentivize the use of telemedicine to address workforce shortages and reduce wait times for patients seeking primary and specialist care.

A Healthier Louisiana for All
Expanding healthcare access in Louisiana will save lives, strengthen families, and reduce costs in the long term by emphasizing prevention and community-based care. I am committed to ensuring that every Louisianan has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of their income or where they live.