Louisiana Department of Health


The Louisiana Department of Health, formerly known as the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, is a state agency of Louisiana, headquartered in Baton Rouge. It is Louisiana's largest state agency with a budget of $14 billion and approximately 6,300 personnel. The agency oversees the health of the population under its current secretary, Dr. Rebekah Gee.

Leadership

Dr. Rebekah Gee, an obstetrician and gynecologist, was appointed secretary in 2016 by Governor John Bel Edwards. Prior to her role as secretary, she served as Louisiana's Medicaid medical director. Before that, she was the director for the Birth Outcomes Initiative. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2019's Women Leaders to Watch in Healthcare. She resigned effective January 31, 2020; she was replaced by Stephen Russo as interim secretary pending a permanent replacement.
Mark A. Thomas has served as deputy secretary, the chief operating officer of LDH, since 2018. His previous role was assistant secretary for LDH's Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities from 2013 to 2018. The deputy secretary is the coordinator for LDH's Regional Coordinating Councils and oversees the coordination and implementation of the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Mission

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the state of Louisiana.

Offices of the Louisiana Department of Health

LDH's agencies include:
LDH also plays a role in the State of Louisiana's emergency preparedness network.

Geographic Structure

The Louisiana Department of Health provides public health services and oversight across Louisiana in nine regions.
RegionHeadquartersArea
1*New OrleansJefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard
2Baton RougeAscension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana
3HoumaAssumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, Terrebonne
4LafayetteAcadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion
5Lake CharlesAllen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis
6PinevilleAvoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, Winn
7ShreveportBienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Webster
8MonroeCaldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, West Carroll
9HammondLivingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington

*Within the Office of Behavioral Health, Region 1 comprises Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes. An additional Region 10, based in Metairie, serves Jefferson Parish exclusively.