By Associated Press
Washington, DC – Three Gulf Coast states whose health care networks were depleted or disrupted by Hurricane Katrina can get 175 (m) million dollars in grants in the coming weeks. That's according to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. Leavitt announced Thursday that Louisiana is slated to get the largest share, about 71-point-six (m) million dollars, while 60-point-five (m) million will go to Mississippi and 27-point-eight (m) million to Alabama. Some lawmakers who met with Leavitt in the Capitol said much more is needed. They say residents are struggling to get quality care, and uncertainty over the issue is a major reason many families have not moved back to devastated areas. The money is among the last of a two (b) billion dollar appropriation approved last year to help hospitals, clinics and nursing centers cope with financial strains from the massive storm that struck in 2005.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)