"This award recognizes Rep. Boustany for his leadership in helping to strengthen Louisiana hospitals,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA’s president and CEO. "He is very cognizant of the key role that rural hospitals play in providing and maintaining access to health care in rural America.”

During his tenure as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Boustany has always made sure that rural hospitals had the resources necessary to provide patients with the right care in the right setting. He supported and helped improve programs for the most isolated rural hospitals, whose size and census fluctuations make it hard for them to remain financially viable, and is currently working to continue the important Medicare Dependent Hospital program. Rep. Boustany also led the effort to ensure that hospitals are not inundated by burdensome federal tax regulations.
"I’m honored to accept this award and thank these wonderful organizations for all they do in providing leadership and services to our state. As a retired heart surgeon who volunteered on the board of a community hospital, I fighting to protect seniors’ access to community hospitals. These hospitals serve a vital role in providing access and care to many patients in our communities throughout South Louisiana. I’m proud to be named the Health Care Champion by the American Hospital Association and the Louisiana Hospital Association.”
The award was presented at Lafayette General Medical Center by LHA Board Chair and Women’s & Children’s Hospital CEO Kathy Bobbs and LHA Board Member and Lafayette General Medical Center CEO David Callecod.
"Louisiana’s hospitals appreciate the years of leadership and advocacy provided by Rep. Boustany,” said John Matessino, president and CEO of LHA. "As a doctor and key legislator, he understands the needs of patients, physicians and hospitals and has worked tirelessly to ensure that care is available when needed.



Pictured, from left: Lyman Trahan, CEO, Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital; J. Brandon Moore, CEO, Park Place Surgical Hospital; Joe Rodriguez, CEO Acadia Vermilion Hospital; Carrie Templeton, Administrator, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital; Buffy H. Domingue, CEO, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital; Kathy Bobbs, Louisiana Hospital Association Board of Trustees Chair/President & CEO, Regional Health System of Acadiana; Representative Charles Boustany, M.D. (R-LA); Alan Daugherty, CEO, Mercy Regional Medical Center; David L. Callecod, President & CEO, Lafayette General Medical Center; Deanna Lejeune, Community Relations Coordinator, Opelousas General Health System; Anthony P. Blalock, M.D., President, Louisiana State Medical Society; Sean Prados, Executive Vice President, Louisiana Hospital Association.