A Medicaid program may cut ties with Ochsner; how SpaceX development plans with impact Pecan Island

One of Louisiana’s four remaining Medicaid programs may end its coverage for the Ochsner network, potentially impacting 70,000 patients across the state. Ochsner describes itself as the largest Medicaid healthcare provider in Louisiana and has facilities in nearly every region in the state.

Louisiana Illuminator reporter Julie O’Donoghue has been covering this story. She joins us with the latest.

SpaceX wants to build one of the biggest spaceports in the world on the Louisiana coast—a sprawling $100 billion complex near tiny Pecan Island, where marshes, birds, and generations of coastal communities are already living with a rapidly changing landscape. Louisiana sees the project as an economic opportunity—and a potential new source of money to help save its disappearing coast. But for people who live there, the arrival of rockets raises a different question: What happens when the future of space collides with a place that is already struggling to survive?

This episode is hosted by Executive Producer Carlyle Calhoun and Coastal Reporter Michael McEwan. Additional reporting and interview tape from Gulf States Newsroom reporter Drew Hawkins. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski.

___

Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts.

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!