FERRIDAY, La. – If anyone is watching the Louisiana Legislature closely during this week’s special session, it’s Vernon Stevens.

As it stands now, restoration of Medicaid cuts made by the state’s Department of Health and Hospitals would still not be included in the state’s budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, said Stevens, administrator of Riverland Medical Center.

&uot;So far, restoration of those cuts is ‘below the line’ – meaning that would be included (in the budget) if they can find the funding for it,&uot; said Stevens, also a past president of the Louisiana Rural Health Association.

DHH imposed a 7 percent budget cut March 1 to fill a $126 million hole in this year’s Medicaid budget.

And if those cuts remain, the Ferriday hospital – 80 percent of whose patients are Medicaid or Medicare patients – would stand to lose $500,000 a year from its $11.7 million-a-year budget.

Stevens said earlier this year that some cost-cutting options the hospital’s Board of Trustees might consider would be getting an outside company to manage home health – saving as much as $300,000 – or rebidding a contract for emergency room staffing.

And on Tuesday, the board chose Correct Care Inc. to staff its emergency room starting Sept. 1. The Schumacher Group now staffs the hospital’s emergency room. In addition, Stevens has said it may be necessary to cross-train support employees to do other jobs so that when other workers quit or retire, the remaining employees can take on other duties. &uot;But before any major cuts are made, we would have to see what the Legislature does during this session,&uot; Stevens said.

In an April interview, he said cuts would not be made that would directly affect patient care. Representatives of a coalition of 38 rural hospitals will lobby until the session ends June 28 for the cuts to be restored, Stevens said.

&uot;Until then, we’re just watching,&uot;&160;he said.