NEW ORLEANS--With the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday, Gov. Kathleen Blanco has announced a comprehensive plan to redesign Louisiana's battered health care system.

Created by the state's legislature this year, the "Louisiana Health Care Redesign Collaborative" includes state public health officials, members of the state legislature and representatives from health care associations, hospitals and other health organizations.

Initially, the collaborative will focus on the greater New Orleans area to develop a blueprint for redesign of the state's health care system, mainly through a proposal for a large-scale Medicaid waiver and Medicare demonstration program. The plan is to be submitted to HHS by Oct. 20.

Officials said they are aiming for a system with high-quality, accessible, patient-centered care delivered by ambulatory and community-based centers. Designed to take advantage of opportunities for sharing electronic health information, the plan will also aim to reward quality outcomes and patients' involvement in their health care.

"What we do ... will lead to a better health care system for the New Orleans area that can be expanded and adapted for all parts of Louisiana for statewide health care improvement," Gov. Blanco said. "We need to do it differently, and we will do it better."

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt called the effort "the opportunity to