6.28.12 The latest federal transportation bill compromise would take more than $650 million from Louisiana's federal health care services dollars for the poor combined over the next two years.

The nearly $3 billion total highways bill does direct billions of dollars in BP oil spill fine money to Louisiana for RESTORE Act restoration projects, but U.S. House and Senate leaders on Wednesday afternoon were opting to balance some of the other spending measures on the back of Louisiana's health care, according to state government officials and the congressional delegation.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein said Tuesday the Medicaid spending cuts would mean the state having to cut its reimbursement programs for services like breast and cervical cancer screenings, foster care services, hospice care and more.