Questions and Answers
Why is BHS asking for a community investment at this time?
The citizens of Beauregard Parish own the health system and the system leadership is asking for their investment to:
Provide more specialists so people won’t have to travel as much for their care
Provide more medical scholarships to local youth to return home and help the community
To enhance services and staff over the next 10 years in the new ER and Women’s Center
Bring healthcare services closer to the citizens of South Beauregard with a new clinic offering primary care, specialty care, imaging and retail pharmacy.
To provide more access to care throughout the parish with a mobile health unit
To lessen dependence on government healthcare reimbursement and attract more private insurance payments with the South Beauregard Clinic.
How much will the community investment cost the average homeowner?
Between $25 and $75 per year with homestead exemption.
How long will property owners pay the millage?
The millage is for ten years. After that time it will go away or be renewed by the voters.
Why should I invest in BHS when I pay health insurance?
Health insurance pays for your personal healthcare. It reimburses providers for the services that you receive. This millage investment will bring more specialists to the area which will save individuals money. A citizen will pay more in one trip to access a provider in Lake Charles or Alexandria than what they will pay in this millage for a year.
This millage will also make the area more attractive for families and businesses to move here by offering more comprehensive care. It will bring our youth back to practice medicine or work in our healthcare system and it will help seniors and others without transportation to access basic healthcare services.
Do other communities financially support their Service District Hospitals?
90% of communities in Louisiana support their local, rural hospital. BHS is an exception.
What happens if this millage fails to pass?
Progress to bring specialists to BHS will be extremely slow. There will be gaps in physician-led care and services because of physicians retiring. The mobile health unit will not be possible and there will be fewer medical scholarships. BHS will have to re-analyze the services it plans to offer in the South Beauregard clinic.
Why is it important to vote early in the period between November 1 to November 8?
BHS is encouraging citizens to vote early at the Registrar of Voters Office because something may happen on the traditional voting day of November 15. Children’s activities, family responsibilities or bad weather may interfere with a citizen’s ability to vote. In early voting, a citizen has a whole week and can vote when it’s convenient to their schedule. It is important to vote. Healthcare in our community is important for each and every one of us.
How do citizens know that the funds will be spent on the projects that are being proposed?
BHS is owned by the citizens of Beauregard parish who are represented by the hospital board. The Board oversees the policies of the hospital and they receive an Annual Audit by a public accounting firm that shows income and expenses. The hospital submits their Annual Audit to the state each year. In addition, the hospital leadership is dedicated to delivering on their promises to the community.
Why is BHS System asking citizens to pay funds for the proposed South Beauregard Clinic?
Some of the funds generated by the millage will be dedicated to the South Beauregard Clinic. BHS has funds for the construction of the facility. The additional funds from the millage are for staffing the clinic and accelerating the services that will be offered. Funds will be used to cover recruitment costs of physicians and their salaries as well as the salaries of pharmacy and radiology staff. Funds will also purchase technology for radiology services for the clinic. If funds are provided by the community, providers and services will be accelerated and the South Beau community will have a retail pharmacy, imaging services, primary and specialty care close to their homes. Without these funds, it will take years longer for the clinic to be in full operation.
Why is BHS building a clinic in South Beauregard?
The South Beauregard Clinic will offer citizens more choice of providers and expanded access to care.
Choice of Providers and Services will be greatly expanded.
The Clinic will offer in addition to primary care, physician specialists, radiology services and a retail pharmacy. The community will benefit from expanded choices for their healthcare services and they will not have to travel for these services. With this Clinic these services will be minutes from their homes. This growing population needs more providers so wait times are shorter and more services are available.
Access to services will also be expanded in these ways:
First, people with limited transportation will have more services closer to their homes. They will not have to incur the time and expense of traveling to Lake Charles or DeRidder for many services.
Second, people who have Medicaid coverage will be able to access all of the services of the clinic because BHS takes all six Medicaid plans as well as Medicare, and commercial insurance. BHS also takes Medicare Advantage plans.