Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is returning to lawmakers this week to ask for approval to outsource a state employee health insurance plan.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is returning to lawmakers this week to ask for approval to outsource a state employee health insurance plan.
Jindal's top budget adviser shelved a vote last week when it became clear the contract between the Office of Group Benefits and Blue Cross/Blue Shield didn't have enough votes to win passage.
Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols is scheduled to revisit the request Friday with the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees.
The meeting comes after two Republican members on the House committee were ousted from the panel, a day after they sided with opponents of Jindal's outsourcing proposal.
Jindal proposes hiring Blue Cross as a cost-cutting move to manage an insurance plan that covers workers, retirees and their dependents. Critics worry the change could harm health benefits.