2016 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY SENATORS ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP, BOUDREAUX,
BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE,
ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG,
LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL,
MORRISH, PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN
SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVES ABRAHAM, ABRAMSON, ADAMS, AMEDEE,
ANDERS, ARMES, BACALA, BAGLEY, BAGNERIS, BARRAS,
BERTHELOT, BILLIOT, BISHOP, BOUIE, BROADWATER, CHAD BROWN,
TERRY BROWN, CARMODY, CARPENTER, GARY CARTER, ROBBY
CARTER, STEVE CARTER, CHANEY, CONNICK, COUSSAN, COX,
CROMER, DANAHAY, DAVIS, DEVILLIER, DWIGHT, EDMONDS,
EMERSON, FALCONER, FOIL, FRANKLIN, GAINES, GAROFALO,
GISCLAIR, GLOVER, GUINN, HALL, JIMMY HARRIS, LANCE HARRIS,
HAVARD, HAZEL, HENRY, HENSGENS, HILFERTY, HILL, HODGES,
HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HORTON, HOWARD, HUNTER, HUVAL, IVEY,
JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, MIKE JOHNSON, ROBERT
JOHNSON, JONES, JORDAN, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LEBAS,
LEGER, LEOPOLD, LOPINTO, LYONS, MACK, MAGEE, MARCELLE,
MCFARLAND, MIGUEZ, DUSTIN MILLER, GREGORY MILLER,
MONTOUCET, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, JIM MORRIS, NORTON,
PEARSON, PIERRE, POPE, PRICE, PUGH, PYLANT, REYNOLDS, RICHARD,
SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER, SEABAUGH, SHADOIN, SIMON, SMITH,
STOKES, TALBOT, THIBAUT, WHITE, WILLMOTT AND ZERINGUE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home
Association, for his dedicated service rendered on behalf of the health services
community as a distinguished lobbyist and to congratulate him upon the occasion
of his well-deserved retirement.
WHEREAS, it is with great respect that the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the
accomplishments forged by Joe Donchess, who has consistently promoted the improvement
of relations between nursing home providers and governmental agencies; and
WHEREAS, during his thirty years with the Louisiana Nursing Home Association,
Joe Donchess has been recognized by his peers as an astute professional; he has provided
leadership in the formulation of long-term care policy and advocacy on behalf of Louisiana's
nursing home facilities, assisted living communities, and the residents who are served; and
WHEREAS, born in Struthers, Ohio, Joe graduated from Struthers High School in
1968 as a stellar basketball athlete; he attained a bachelor of arts degree from Chaminade
University in Hawaii where he also played basketball for the Chaminade "Silverswords"; Joe
continued his education and attained a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center;
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and
WHEREAS, his work with state government began in 1979 as an attorney for the
state agency now known as the Louisiana Department of Health; and
WHEREAS, in 1986, he was named executive director of the nursing home
association and his leadership and expertise were applied to identify the domains of practice,
performance, and skills used by providers responsible for long-term care supports and
services; and
WHEREAS, his professional affiliations include the Louisiana State Bar
Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association,
the American Society of Health Care Association Executives, and the Louisiana Emergency
Preparedness Association; and
WHEREAS, Joe Donchess has received many accolades during his prestigious
career, too numerous to mention; however, he is especially proud of receiving of the Better
Life Award in 1994 and again in 2008; and
WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies have benefitted from his
guidance, which includes his membership and executive positions held with the Board of
Examiners of Nursing Facility Administrators, the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust Fund
Advisory Council, the Louisiana Patients' Compensation Fund Oversight Board, the
Louisiana Executive Board on Aging, the National Hurricane Summit, the Louisiana Health
Works Commission, and the Gubernatorial Health Care Transition Team; and
WHEREAS, Joe Donchess was instrumental in the passage of several items of
legislation that include implementation of the Nursing Home Reform Act, the creation of the
Case Mix Reimbursement System and the Intergovernmental Transfer Program, and
protections for the Medical Assistance Trust Fund; and Joe's work on these programs
assisted the state in the generation of over $1.5 billion and the receipt of over $4.8 billion
in matching federal funds without any cost to the state; and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Joe assembled a team of heroic
responders that executed rescue operations in numerous nursing facilities, assisted living
facilities, and independent living facilities; later the team assisted in the successful pre-storm
evacuation of ninety-three nursing facilities before the landfall of Hurricane Gustav; and
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WHEREAS, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Joe was appointed to the
Louisiana Health Care Collaborative, a commission created to redesign health care delivery,
to revamp health policy, and to rebuild the health care facilities in those areas affected by
storm damage; and
WHEREAS, in his leisure time, Joe takes a special interest in sports; he is a
member of the Baton Rouge Ancient Athlete Society and as a member of the National Senior
Olympic Basketball Team; he was a gold medalist in the 2013 National Senior Olympic
Games in Cleveland, Ohio, and was awarded a bronze medal in 2007; and
WHEREAS, in retirement, Joe and his wife, Deborah White Donchess, look
forward to more time spent with their two sons, Robert and Sam, and three grandchildren,
and the pursuit of new golf adventures; and
WHEREAS, an effective and successful legislative process depends, essentially,
upon leaders like Joe Donchess, a consummate professional, who leads by example and
whose unique talents and abilities assist in the law-making process.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home
Association, on his thirty year career in governmental relations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
congratulate Joe Donchess on the occasion of his well-deserved retirement and wish for him
success in all his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Joseph A. "Joe" Donchess.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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