SR 64 — CONDOLENCES: Expresses sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of former Louisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy.

SLS 26RS-1788 ORIGINAL Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

64 BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX CONDOLENCES.A RESOLUTION To express sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of former Louisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy.

ExpressesWHEREAS, sincereit andis heartfeltwith condolencesprofound onsorrow that the passingpeople of former Louisiana Medicaidhave Directorlearnedof the passing of Josephine Ruth Kennedy.Kennedy, who departed this life peacefully at her home on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the age of seventy-one;

A RESOLUTION To express sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of former Louisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy.

WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow that the people ofLouisianahavelearnedof the passing of Josephine Ruth Kennedy, who departed this life peacefully at her home on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the age of seventy-one;

and PageWHEREAS, 1she built an honorable and distinguished career spanning more than fortyyears in public service with the Louisiana Department of 3Health, SLSdedicating 26RS-1788herself ORIGINALto SRensuring NO.that families across Louisiana had access to essential health services and opportunities for care;

64and WHEREAS,WHEREAS,through sheherleadership,innovation, builtanddetermination,shehelpedlead anmajor honorableinitiatives to expand health coverage and distinguishedimprove careercare spanningdelivery moreacross thanthe fortyyearsstate, inincluding publicthe serviceimplementation withand expansion of the Louisiana DepartmentChildren's ofHealth Health,Insurance dedicatingProgram herself(LaCHIP) toand ensuringthe thatdevelopment familiesof acrossBayou LouisianaHealth, hadand accesswas toknown essentialfor healthpersonally servicesPage and1 opportunitiesof for3 care;SR NO.

and64 WHEREAS,ENROLLED through herleadership,innovation,anddetermination,shehelpedlead major initiatives to expand health coverage and improve care delivery across the state, including the implementation and expansion of the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) and the development of Bayou Health, and was known for personally traveling throughout the state to assist families in obtaining health coverage;

and WHEREAS, Ruth KennedywaspromotedtoKennedywaspromoted serveasto LouisianaMedicaidserve Director,as LouisianaMedicaidDirector, wheresheoversawaprogramthatsupportedmorethanonemillion Louisianansandguided efforts to expand coverage to an additional four hundred thousand working adults who otherwise had limited access to health care;

and WHEREAS, afterafterretiringfrom retiring from state government in 2017, Ruth Kennedycontinued her work to improve health care access and policy by joining Southern Strategy Group, where she assisted providers and pharmacies, helped streamline eligibility verification programs, supported hospital systems, and worked to expand opportunities for care and professional training for pharmacypharmacytechnicians technicians across the state and beyond;

and Pagemany 2loving ofnieces 3and SLSnephews; 26RS-1788 ORIGINAL SR NO.

64 many loving nieces and nephews;

THEREFORE,Page BE2 IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the3 LegislatureSR ofNO. Louisiana doesherebyexpressitssincereandheartfeltcondolencesonthepassingofformerLouisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy and does hereby recognize and honor her remarkablecareerofpublicserviceandherenduringcontributions to thehealthandwelfare of the people of Louisiana.

64 ENROLLED THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana doesherebyexpressitssincereandheartfeltcondolencesonthepassingofformerLouisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy and does hereby recognize and honor her remarkablecareerofpublicserviceandherenduringcontributions to thehealthandwelfare of the people of Louisiana.

ThePRESIDENT originalOF instrumentTHE andSENATE thePage following3 digest, which constitutes no part of the3 legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SR 64 Original 2026 Regular Session Boudreaux Expresses condolences upon the passing of former Louisiana Medicaid Director Josephine Ruth Kennedy.

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