Washington, DC – The following statement should be attributed to James Gelfand, Senior Vice President of Health Policy at The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC):
“ERIC applauds Governor Edwards for signing Senate Bill 34 into law, permitting Louisiana to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.
Interstate compacts give large employers, like ERIC member companies, the ability to expand their health benefit offerings in the state. Compacts broaden the pool of providers, reducing provider shortages, allowing patients to have more options for accessing care. They also improve market competition and boost healthcare quality and affordability for patients throughout the state.
With Louisiana continuing to fight COVID-19 while working to recover from damaging hurricanes, residents’ ability to access care – when and how they need it – through telemedicine is more critical now than ever.
ERIC encourages other states to follow Louisiana’s lead and join interstate compacts and give their residents more options for care.”