Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana, Franklin, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1992-10-09

Duration: 00:28:14

Subjects: Insurance Industry | Rural health services | Health Care | HEALTH INSURANCE | Louisiana Public Broadcasting

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Fontenot, Jodie Photographer
• Miranda, Chris Photographer
• Wiltz, Gary Interviewee
• Holden, Kip Interviewee
• Marone, James Speaker
• Brown, Jim Interviewee
• Carson, Marcus Interviewee
• Greene, Tom Interviewee
• Aunsen, Ivy Interviewee
• Sanchez, Gayle Interviewee
• Sanchez, Belinda Interviewee
• Czernik, David Interviewee
• Talbot, Doug Interviewee
• Barron, Leah Interviewee
• Arceneaux, William Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from October 9, 1992, features Robert Collins, Jeff Duhe, and Arcie Chapa reporting on Louisiana’s health care crisis. Chapa first reports on the success of the Teche Action Clinic, a community health center in Franklin, Louisiana. She interviews Dr. Gary Wiltz, the medical director at the clinic, and Ivy Aunsen, his patient. Her report also focuses on the recent Louisiana Health Care Conference in Biloxi sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Insurance to address the availability and affordability of health insurance in Louisiana. It includes highlights of a speech by Dr. James Marone of Brown University. She also interviews: State Representative Kip Holden; Commissioner of Insurance Jim Brown; Marcus Carson of the Louisiana Health Care Campaign; and State Senator Tom Greene. Duhe then reports on the Louisiana Health Insurance Association’s new high-risk health pool to help people who can no longer afford health insurance due to preexisting conditions. He interviews: Gayle Sanchez, a dentist who cannot afford health insurance following his cancer treatment; Belinda Sanchez, his wife and insurance advocate; David Czernik, consumer advocate; Doug Talbot, consumer advocate; and Leah Barron, the director of the Louisiana Health Insurance Association. Lastly, Collins reports on LPB’s new educational initiative, distance learning, including comments by Dr. William Arceneaux, the chairman of the Louisiana Educational Television Authority, and Governor Edwin Edwards.