SLS 162ES-65 ORIGINAL
2016 Second Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY SENATORS ALARIO AND THOMPSON
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Joseph "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the
Louisiana Nursing Home Association, upon his well-deserved retirement.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home
3 Association, for his dedicated service rendered on behalf of the health services
4 community as a distinguished lobbyist and to congratulate him upon the occasion of
5 his well-deserved retirement.
6 WHEREAS, it is with great respect that the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the
7 accomplishments forged by Joe Donchess, who has consistently promoted the improvement
8 of relations between nursing home providers and governmental agencies; and
9 WHEREAS, during his thirty years with the Louisiana Nursing Home Association,
10 Joe Donchess has been recognized by his peers as an astute professional; he has provided
11 leadership in the formulation of long-term care policy and advocacy on behalf of Louisiana's
12 nursing home facilities, assisted living communities, and the residents who are served; and
13 WHEREAS, born in Struthers, Ohio, Joe graduated from Struthers High School in
14 1968 as a stellar basketball athlete; he attained a bachelor of arts degree from Chaminade
15 University in Hawaii where he also played basketball for the Chaminade "Silverswords"; Joe
16 continued his education and attained a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, his work with state government began in 1979 as an attorney for the
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1 state agency now known as the Louisiana Department of Health; and
2 WHEREAS, in 1986, he was named executive director of the nursing home
3 association and his leadership and expertise were applied to identify the domains of practice,
4 performance, and skills used by providers responsible for long-term care supports and
5 services; and
6 WHEREAS, his professional affiliations include the Louisiana State Bar Association,
7 the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association, the American
8 Society of Health Care Association Executives, and the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness
9 Association; and
10 WHEREAS, Joe Donchess has received many accolades during his prestigious
11 career, too numerous to mention, however he is especially proud of the receipt of the Better
12 Life Award in 1994 and again in 2008; and
13 WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies have benefitted from his guidance,
14 which includes his membership and executive positions held with the Board of Examiners
15 of Nursing Facility Administrators, the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust Fund Advisory
16 Council, the Louisiana Patients' Compensation Fund Oversight Board, the Louisiana
17 Executive Board on Aging, the National Hurricane Summit, the Louisiana Health Works
18 Commission, and the Gubernatorial Health Care Transition Team; and
19 WHEREAS, Joe Donchess was instrumental in the passage of several items of
20 legislation that include implementation of the Nursing Home Reform Act, the creation of the
21 Case Mix Reimbursement System and the Intergovernmental Transfer Program, and
22 protections for the Medical Assistance Trust Fund; and Joe's work on these programs
23 assisted the state in the generation of over $1.5 billion and the receipt of over $4.8 billion
24 in matching federal funds without any cost to the state; and
25 WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Joe assembled a team of heroic
26 responders that executed rescue operations in numerous nursing facilities, assisted living
27 facilities, and independent living facilities; later the team assisted in the successful pre-storm
28 evacuation of ninety-three nursing facilities before the landfall of Hurricane Gustav; and
29 WHEREAS, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Joe was appointed to the
30 Louisiana Health Care Collaborative, a commission created to redesign health care delivery,
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1 to revamp health policy, and to rebuild the health care facilities in those areas affected by
2 storm damage; and
3 WHEREAS, in his leisure time, Joe takes a special interest in sports; he is a member
4 of the Baton Rouge Ancient Athlete Society and as a member of the National Senior
5 Olympic Basketball Team, he was a gold medalist in the 2013 National Senior Olympic
6 Games in Cleveland, Ohio, and was awarded a bronze medal in 2007; and
7 WHEREAS, in retirement, Joe and his wife, Deborah White Donchess, look forward
8 to more time spent with their two sons, Robert and Sam, and three grandchildren, and the
9 pursuit of new golf adventures; and
10 WHEREAS, an effective and successful legislative process depends, essentially,
11 upon leaders like Joe Donchess, a consummate professional, who leads by example and
12 whose unique talents and abilities assist in the law-making process.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
14 commend Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home
15 Association, on his thirty year career in governmental relations.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
17 congratulate Joe Donchess on the occasion of his well-deserved retirement and wish for him
18 success in all his future endeavors.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
20 Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 6 Original 2016 Second Extraordinary Session Alario
Commends Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home
Association, on his retirement.
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