WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) secured $1,323,770.00 for Louisiana in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, Financial Services and General Government, and National Security and Department of State appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. This package is now headed to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
“We need better national security and a stronger, safer Louisiana. That’s what a $1.3 billion investment gets you,” said Dr. Cassidy.
Included among 43 entities across the state that will receive money is the Jackson Parish Hospital, which has 4 million dollars earmarked to provide federal support for the construction of a rural health clinic in Jonesboro, La.
“Meeting with people from Jackson Parish let me know about the needs of their community,” said Dr. Cassidy. “As a doctor, I know good health care is essential to a community’s future. I support rural health.”
Jackson Parish Hospital, CEO John Morgan, whose guidance has led the critical care facility to being named the 2023 Outstanding Rural Health Organization of the Year by the Louisiana Rural Health Association and becoming a national case study for financial and operational sustainability by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, was very appreciative of the JPH being included in the Labor-Health and Human Services (LHHS) portion of the massive bill.
“This all started a couple of years ago when I sat down with Senator Cassidy and outlined the hopes and plans we had for increasing the Jackson Parish Hospital’s footprint and improving our ability to serve the community,” said Morgan. “As a fellow medical professional, he understood our need, and I greatly appreciate Senator Cassidy for hearing our plea and including us in this bill.”
“This is going to be tremendously impactful as it allows us to add to our capabilities by recruiting and retaining specialists,” continued Morgan. “Also, Jackson Parish as a whole will benefit as new jobs will be created, and our residents won’t have to travel to other places to get the care they need.”
Morgan concluded by saying that when built, the new clinic will be a two-story structure located on the corner of Hwy 167 and Beech Springs Hwy, behind where the JPH digital sign is located, and that it will house up to eight providers of various specialties.
For a complete list of how the entire appropriations bill will be divided click here.
