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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 151
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON AND SENATOR HEITMEIER
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Ms. Debra Ann "Debbie" Maxwell Gough for thirty-three years of dedicated
service to the citizens of the state of Louisiana as an employee of the Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals.
WHEREAS, Ms. Debbie Gough is a native of Memphis, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough graduated from Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in 1979, Ms. Gough received her bachelor's degree in accounting from
Louisiana State University; and
WHEREAS, from 1975 through 1979, Ms. Gough worked as a student worker for
the division of administration while attending college; and
WHEREAS, in 1979, Ms. Gough began her thirty-three years of dedicated service
to the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Ms. Gough began working for the Department of Health and
Hospitals, then known as the Department of Health and Human Resources; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough held several positions responsible for the complex Medicaid
Reimbursement Program for Hospital Services, in which her duties included navigating vast
federal and state regulations; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough provided the department with outstanding service that has
resulted in payments to hospital providers in an amount exceeding three billion dollars
annually, assuring access to care for Louisiana citizens; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough's wealth of knowledge and expertise has served the
department through several administrations by educating and guiding departmental officials
and legislators in complicated federal and state laws and regulations governing Medicaid
reimbursement and reimbursement of uncompensated care costs; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 151
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WHEREAS, Ms. Gough has been an invaluable resource in the implementation of
the Rural Hospital Preservation Act; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough was instrumental in the development of the historic
agreement between the department, Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, and the Louisiana
State University health system that will allow the medical services and medical education
now provided by LSU's Earl K. Long Hospital to be taken over by Our Lady of the Lake
Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Gough currently serves as section chief of the Medicaid
supplemental payments section; and
WHEREAS, it has been a privilege for department staff to learn from and work with
Ms. Gough, and she has touched the lives of those she has worked with inside and outside
the department; and
WHEREAS, upon her retirement, Ms. Gough is looking forward to being able to
spend more time on the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, and relaxing with her husband
Frederick N. "Rick" Gough and their vast assortment of pets.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend and extend its gratitude to Ms. Debra Ann "Debbie" Maxwell Gough for her
outstanding service of thirty-three years to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
and the citizens of Louisiana and congratulates and does hereby wish her well on the
occasion of her retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Debbie Gough.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE