CMS Declines Louisiana’s Hospital Privatization Proposal.

The AP (5/3, Deslatte) reported that on Friday, the CMS “rejected Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s financing plans for the privatization of six state-owned hospitals that care for the poor and uninsured.” The article called this “a potentially significant blow to the state’s health care operations.” This could “create massive upheaval in the state’s operating budget” because it affects deals that have already been made to transfer hospital management within the state. CMS claimed in a statement that the motive behind the rejection was “to maintain the fiscal integrity of the Medicaid program.” The Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate (5/4, Shuler) also covered the story,.