501 C STREET NE WASHINGTON DC Louisiana Voter Attitudes January , 2012 N=600 Margin of Error ± 4.0% Conducted on behalf of the Louisiana State Medical Society

Health care and education are top priorities 2 Chart shows combined 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd response Unlike most other states the economy is not the top concern

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. Voters disapprove of Obamacare by a 13% margin 3 Switching to health care reforms proposed by President Obama that were adopted a couple of years ago, do you approve or do you disapprove of the federal health care reform law? (PROMPT) And do you strongly or just somewhat (approve / disapprove)? % Strongly approve26.1% Somewhat approve14.8% Somewhat disapprove7.1% Strongly disapprove46.9% Don't know (DNR)4.5% Refused (DNR)0.5%

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. Majorities do believe Louisiana should expand Medicaid 4 One of the features of the federal health care law is that it increases the number of people covered by Medicaid, the program that is run jointly by the federal and state government to provide health care for low income and disabled residents. If states agree to increase the number of people covered, the federal government would pay 100% of the cost for the first four years, and 90% of the cost in the future. If Louisiana participates more Louisianans would receive health coverage, but some critics argue that the state cannot afford future costs of expanding health coverage under Medicaid. First, do you think Louisiana should participate in the expansion of Medicaid or should it not participate? Should participate in Medicare expansion Should not participate in Medicare expansion Governor Jindal, a critic of Medicaid expansion, has questioned the state’s ability to pay for future Medicaid costs and has been opposed to expanding coverage to more residents under the Medicaid program. Others have argued that by not participating, Louisiana taxpayers are leaving millions of federal dollars that would be available for health services on the table. On this who do you agree with more The Governor’s position the Louisiana should not expand Medicaid The position of others that we should not leave millions in federal health care dollars on the table

Mixed reaction to reform of Charity Hospital System 5 Historically, many people in Louisiana relied on Charity Hospitals for a lot of their health care. Citing Louisiana’s budget challenges, the Jindal administration and the Legislature have been changing state health policies to utilize more private sector contractors to provide health services, and have streamlined some services resulting in the closure of some facilities. Do you believe the charity hospitals were working well, or do you think changes were needed? % Were working well45.7% Changes were needed44.2% Neither / other / mix (DNR)3.2% Dont know (DNR)6.7% Refused (DNR)0.3% Jury is still out: when asked whether Bayou health is working well or not working well 70% said they had not heard enough to say.

However, very broad support for requiring Bayou Health disclosure 6 One issue being debated in the Louisiana legislature is whether the private insurance companies managing the Bayou Health program should provide more information to the public about their management of Medicaid health services.. Would you favor or oppose a law to require that Bayou Health insurers publicly report on such things as the number of patients they treat, the number of times they deny coverage to someone and the cost of providing care to low income residents? % Favor82.1% Oppose9.2% Dont know (DNR)8.0% Refused (DNR)0.7%

Most people are satisfied with quality and access to health care, but not cost. 7

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. Prior Authorization 8 Nearly ½ have needed prior authorization. People with private coverage much more likely to have needed it than people in publicly funded programs Another issue in the news is prior authorization where an insurance company needs to give prior approval whether to go forward with a medical test or a procedure or a drug that has been prescribed by a doctor.Have you ever been in a situation where you and your doctor needed prior authorization for a test, a drug or a procedure, or have you not been in that situation? % Have46.6% Have not52.4% Dont know (DNR)1.0% Have Have not N= Yes / private plan53.6%44.9%392 Yes / Medicare38.0%62.0%92 Yes / Medicaid33.3%66.7%30 No / no coverage27.7%72.3%65

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. 1/3 rd required by insurer to try a cheaper drug 9 And have you ever been in a situation where your insurance company required that you first try a cheaper drug before getting the drug your doctor had originally prescribed or have you not been in that situation? Have31.7% Have not66.9% Dont know (DNR)1.3% Refused (DNR)0.2%

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. 1 in 4 reports not getting prescribed meds at all 10 And have you ever been in a situation where you did not get a medication at all, when it was prescribed by your doctor but your insurance company did not cover it, or have you not been in that situation? Have28.0% Have not71.3% Dont know (DNR)0.6% Most likely: Medicare patients (Donut hole?) Females > 45 No relation to income

Louisiana / Jan 13 – 17 / N = 600 / MoE = 4%. Pessimistic climate; Weak approval of Legislature 11 As of right now do you believe things in Louisiana are going in the right direction or have they gotten off on the wrong track? Right direction37.3% Wrong track46.9% Mixed / somewhere in between / depends (DNR) 9.1% Dont know (DNR)5.9% Refused (DNR)0.9% Q3 : And do you approve or disapprove of the job done by the Louisiana State Legislature? (IF ANSWERED ASK :) And do you strongly (approve / disapprove) or just somewhat (approve / disapprove)? Approve / strongly8.6% Approve / somewhat37.7% Disapprove / somewhat20.8% Disapprove / strongly19.3% Dont know (DNR)11.5% Refused (DNR)2.1%

12 Decline in Governor’s Approval Ratings Do you approve or disapprove of the job done by Bobby Jindal as Governor?(IF ANSWERED ASK :) And do you strongly (approve / disapprove) or just somewhat (approve / disapprove)? % Approve / strongly21.0% Approve / somewhat24.9% Disapprove / somewhat11.8% Disapprove / strongly36.6% Dont know (DNR)5.3% Refused (DNR)0.5% Southern Media and Opinion Research reported 51% job approval in late September, and 64% approval in September of 2011