FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2020
Contact: Allyson Sanders
allyson@lademo.org

Louisiana Democratic Party Louisiana Democratic Party Statement on Dr. Rebekah Gee’s Departure from the Department of Health 

BATON ROUGE, LA –

Baton Rouge, LA – Monday, the Louisiana Democratic Party released a statement regarding Dr. Rebekah Gee’s resignation as Secretary of the Department of Health.

“In her time as Secretary of the Department of Health, Dr. Rebekah Gee championed the innovative campaigns and ideas that have made Louisiana a healthier, better place to live and thrive,” Stephen Handwerk, Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party said. “Although she began her work at a time when the department had been gutted by years of cuts from the Jindal administration, she tackled these challenges head on and worked to transform the state of health care in Louisiana.

“In short, Dr. Gee’s time leading the Department of Health has made Louisiana a healthier place to live and work. One thing is for certain, she is leaving exceptionally big shoes to fill.”

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In her time as Secretary, 460,000 Louisianians gained access to life-saving health care through Medicaid expansion, the department implemented the Perinatal Quality Collaborative to lower the maternal mortality rate, launched a ground-breaking initiative to reduce cases of Hepatitis C, cut Louisiana’s HIV rate to the lowest number on record, oversaw an aggressive statewide opioid response plan, and ended a decades-long waitlist for families who need disability services.