Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) addressed the "St. Tammany Sector Symposium: Healthcare Innovation and Economic Impact" event today in Metairie. The symposium was organized by the St. Tammany Corporation and Ochsner Health to discuss healthcare advancements and their economic effects on Northshore communities.

Senator Cassidy, who is set to become the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), shared his efforts to enhance healthcare access for residents in the region. He emphasized the importance of events like this symposium in addressing local healthcare needs.

“The St. Tammany Sector Symposium on Healthcare Innovation and Economic Impact is a great start to meeting health care needs of individuals, families and communities in St. Tammany Parish,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I look forward to learning from them as I have already, as to how to implement better policies to serve their purpose and the purposes of us all, as I assume my new role as Chair of the Health, Educator, Labor and Pensions Committee.”

Cassidy is actively involved in several legislative initiatives aimed at reducing drug costs through reforms such as the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform Act. This act seeks to address misaligned incentives within PBMs that contribute to high drug prices for patients.

In addition, he is pushing forward bipartisan legislation for reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act to improve public health readiness against future crises. His efforts also include reauthorizing measures focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those with substance use disorders and mental illnesses.

The symposium highlighted ongoing efforts by St. Tammany Corporation since May 2022 when they launched "Northshore Healthscape," a program aimed at enhancing regional healthcare infrastructure across St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes.

Currently supporting 22,000 jobs tied directly or indirectly to healthcare with over 5,000 unique job postings within a year; this sector contributes more than $1.5 billion annually towards regional GDP growth according Mr Chris Masingill CEO of St.Tammany Corporation who welcomed Senator Cassidy saying: “The health care industry is a key economic driver in St.Tammany & Northshore having significant impact upon our economy landscape quality life opportunities people.”