Louisiana lawmakers tighten oversight of public assistance (opens original article in a new tab)

Louisiana lawmakers passed new laws to increase oversight of Medicaid and food assistance programs, including stricter eligibility verification and coordination when children enter or leave state custody. Critics argue the measures create barriers for vulnerable families.

• More than 200,000 Louisianans left Medicaid and 168,000 exited SNAP over the past year.
• New laws require agencies to coordinate benefit changes when children enter or leave state custody and expand fraud detection efforts.
• Critics claim the measures create additional hurdles for families seeking assistance.