One of my favorite sayings that my older relatives would bat around every time we went hunting, fishing, or enjoyed a football game and meal at their houses on a fall Sunday was this:
“Mike, that’s just short-term smart and long-term stupid! Stay away from it!” Read more
Way back in 2009, when I went to Washington, D.C. on behalf of your Louisiana Blue Plan for the first time, I discovered some amazing things. You might call me a wide-eyed, first-timer in the Big City (even though I was already 48 years old!) as I met lobbyists, legislators, staffers for a bunch of influential people, and policymakers intent on writing what eventually became the Affordable Care Act. Read more
I recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of my first day at Louisiana Blue. And I remain, after all these years, 100% sold on the notion that the best way to pay for a person’s healthcare is by creating entities like us and giving them the freedom to make local decisions and manage our healthcare funds here in Louisiana. Read more
I’ve always been astounded by how much the names we call people, i.e. “nicknames,” can be so different from a person’s given, legal name.
Sometimes there are good reasons for nicknames. When I entered first grade way back in 1967, there were FIVE “Mikes” in my class! Out of just 28 kids. Naturally, I became “Bertaut,” which ultimately was shortened to “BURR-DOE,” which I was stuck with all the way through high school. Even today, when I reconnect with my old high school friends, the name sticks. Read more
Since 2009, I’ve been blessed to have a job that encourages me to meet my friends and neighbors in Louisiana, traveling across all 64 parishes. By my count, I’ve made presentations, workshops, compliance seminars or university lectures in 60 parishes (at least!) in the past 15 years. Read more
I’ve been so blessed the past few years. Since 2019, all three of my kids have married, one has had a child (hilarious!) and we have another grandchild on the way. My lovely wife retired after 35 years working hard as a registered nurse in various roles here in Louisiana. She’s now having fun as a full-time caregiver for a very busy 7-month-old boy! He’s at my house a lot, which makes my life even more fun! Call me Gramps! Read more
