WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today demanded that the Louisiana Department of Health tell taxpayers how much money was wasted on approximately 37,000 Medicaid recipients who were later found to be ineligible because of their income levels.  Sen. Kennedy asked LDH to work with federal officials to recoup misspent money.  

The Associated Press reported on Feb. 21 that the state sent letters to thousands of Medicaid recipients after checking income records and finding that they didn’t qualify for the program because they make too much money.  The state only admitted to the mass mailing after The AP asked repeated questions.  Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to look into audits that showed money was misspent in Louisiana’s Medicaid program.  Among their concerns was that people with incomes exceeding $100,000 were allowed to enroll in Medicaid.

Sen. Kennedy will send his own letter to CMS this week based on the news report.  He will ask CMS to recoup misspent money from Medicaid patients and determine what went wrong.

“LDH only admitted to the problems with the income eligibility of thousands of Medicaid recipients after repeated questions from The Associated Press.  Sadly, this isn’t the first time Louisiana’s Medicaid program has been caught with ineligible people on the rolls.  Just last year, the Legislative Auditor’s Office estimated that Louisiana likely misspent $85 million on Medicaid recipients whose income levels should have disqualified them,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “The Edwards administration fought tooth and nail against legislation that would have allowed the Auditor’s Office to use tax returns to verify Medicaid recipients’ eligibility.  LDH should put out a welcome mat for the Auditor’s Office.  Medicaid is funded through the generosity of the American taxpayer.  Every single penny in funding is sacred.  That’s why I plan to ask CMS Administrator Seema Verma this week what can be done to recover the money that’s been lost to waste and incompetence.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today highlighted a number of wins for Louisianans in the appropriations package, including the passage of his proposal to increase the inspection of imported seafood by 26%.  Shrimpers and fishermen in Louisiana requested the increase to fight competition from foreign fishermen who are unfairly subsidized by their governments and sell contaminated seafood. 

“We know a significant portion of imported seafood is contaminated with banned drugs.  Yet we’re only testing a fraction of the seafood that comes into the U.S.  That’s about to change,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Louisiana produces the best seafood in the world.  Our shrimpers and fishermen shouldn’t be put out of business by imported seafood that’s not fit for the dinner table.  We’re going to catch the cheaters and boost our Louisiana seafood industry.”

Other wins for Louisiana in the appropriations package include:

COASTAL PROTECTION

• Investing $3.5 million to find out what’s killing the Roseau cane that protects Louisiana’s coast from storm surges and maintains navigational channels.
• $42 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which supports wetlands conservation projects.
• $68 million for the National Sea Grant Program, which is addressing coastal challenges in Louisiana.

FAMILIES

• $1.694 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, ensuring that municipalities can tackle water infrastructure projects.
• Supporting agricultural and forestry research at public universities.

JOBS

• Retaining 1,000 Louisiana jobs by keeping the National Finance Center in New Orleans.
• Investing in a program that fosters quality ship construction.
• $1.35 billion for the Orion Spacecraft, major parts of which are being built in Louisiana.
• $18.6 million for cybersecurity education and training, which helps Louisiana’s Cyber Innovation Center.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced three service academy appointments today: Gabriella “Gabby” Berger, of Mandeville, and Annabel Avery Powers, of New Orleans, to the U.S. Naval Academy and Michael Cooper Roddy, of Clinton, to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  Only a limited number of appointments are given to students across the U.S. every year.

Sen. Kennedy nominated all three students.  Academies review nominations before narrowing the list and offering appointments.  To learn more about the academy nomination process, click HERE.

“I am so proud of Gabby, Annabel and Michael for wanting to serve this great country,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “They are outstanding students and smart as a whip.  They are among the brightest, young minds in Louisiana.  The Naval Academy and West Point will be lucky to get them.”

Berger is the daughter of Walter and Amy Berger.  She attends Mandeville High School, where she has a 4.17 GPA.

Powers is the daughter of Bradford and Dolores Powers.  She attends Lusher Charter School, where she is in the top 5% of her class.

Roddy is the son of Knight and Kevin Roddy.  He is home schooled and scored a 33 on the ACT.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after voting today in favor of a Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations package:

“This package isn’t perfect, but it’s a good start toward protecting our southern border.  It’s not $5.7 billion, but it’s also not the bounced check that Democrats wanted to write.  Border walls work, and they’re needed to stop violent, illegal immigrants from getting into this country,” said Sen. Kennedy. “The package also gives the Coast Guard a pay raise.  Active duty members will receive a 2.6% boost in pay, and they deserve it.” 

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