Office of the Secretary

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee praised the Louisiana State Senate for its passage of SB 254, a bill that would require Louisiana employers to pay men and women the same wage for the same work. Women in Louisiana earn just 65 cents on the dollar compared to men when performing similar work, according to a widely cited 2014 study performed by the American Association of University Women.

DHH Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee today urged mothers across Louisiana to live healthily and to ensure that they get regular health checks, including annual mammograms and other cancer screenings when appropriate. Gee, a mother of five, cited the loss of her own mother as one reason why she makes sure to always get her own annual physicals and has begun to get an annual mammogram.

Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, is traveling to Washington, D.C. today, where she will meet with several officials with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and a group of Baton Rouge-area hospitals announced changes to expand access to urgent and emergency room (ER) care for individuals in the Baton Rouge Community. Those changes include increasing and aligning access hours and capacity for urgent care visits at the LSU Health Baton Rouge urgent care clnic on North Foster Drive (effective March 23), other clinic service expansions and efforts by Baton Rouge-area hospitals to increase emergency department (ED) capacity.

Today, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kliebert announced the appointment of Hugh Eley as deputy secretary upon the departure of Courtney Phillips.

This afternoon, Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kathy Kliebert took the “Ice Bucket Challenge.” ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter Director Kelly Viator challenged Secretary Kliebert, and this afternoon Viator soaked Kliebert with four gallons of frigid ice water.

The new school year is approaching, is your child ready? Preparation isn't limited to getting uniforms and school supplies. Every child should be protected before heading to the classroom and that means being certain they are up-to-date on their childhood vaccinations. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reminds parents that ensuring children have received their necessary vaccinations is not only important, it's the law.

Late this afternoon, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) was notified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that the remaining state plan amendments (SPAs) for the public-private partnerships have been denied. This is an unprecedented step by the federal government that contradicts earlier approval actions by CMS. The Department will appeal the decision by CMS through an administrative appeal. There is no short-term budget impact as a result of the CMS decision.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kathy Kliebert announced today the appointment of Louisiana Medicaid Deputy Director Jeff Reynolds to succeed Jerry Phillips as undersecretary of the Department. Reynolds will assume his new responsibilities following Phillips’ retirement on March 10, 2014 from the state after 25 years of service at DHH and a 30-year career in the United States Marine Corps. Phillips was instrumental in the successful creation of nine public-private partnerships aimed at improving access and availability to care for generations of Louisiana residents to come. Following his retirement, Phillips will pursue other employment options with the State in order to ensure the continuity of those partnerships.