CONDOLENCES: Expresses sincere condolences upon the passing of Josephine Ruth Kennedy, former Medicaid Director of the Louisiana Department of Health.

SLS 26RS-1248 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 83
BY SENATOR EDMONDS
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere condolences upon the passing of Josephine Ruth
Kennedy, former Medicaid Director of the Louisiana Department of Health.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of
3 Josephine Ruth Kennedy, former Medicaid Director of the Louisiana Department of
4 Health.
5 WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana greatly honors and commemorates the life
6 of Josephine Ruth Kennedy, a trailblazer and extraordinary public servant, who at the age
7 of seventy-one passed away on March 20, 2026; and
8 WHEREAS, Josephine Ruth Kennedy, known as Ruth Kennedy, was born on
9 December 1, 1954, in Independence, Louisiana, to Josephine and Walter Kennedy and raised
10 on a strawberry field in Springfield with her five siblings; and
11 WHEREAS, she graduated from Springfield High School in 1972, attended Oregon
12 Bible College from 1972 to 1974, and upon returning home she continued her education at
13 Southeastern Louisiana University from 1975 to 1979; and
14 WHEREAS, Ruth Kennedy built an honorable and distinguished career for forty
15 years in public service with the Louisiana Department of Health, dedicating herself to
16 helping families access essential services by leading major initiatives to expand coverage
17 and improve care delivery; and
18 WHEREAS, Ruth Kennedy leaves behind a legacy that is foundational to Louisiana's
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1 Department of Health and its citizens; and
2 WHEREAS, Ruth, described as the "Implementer-in-Chief", used her business sense,
3 smarts, and strategic abilities to take plans and policies and turn them into reliable protocol
4 that really worked, often expanding healthcare coverage to thousands and improving
5 healthcare delivery services; and
6 WHEREAS, Ruth played a prominent role in establishing new initiatives, including
7 LaCHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Bayou Health, and Express Lane
8 Eligibility which resulted in more than ten thousand Louisiana children being enrolled in
9 coverage literally overnight; and
10 WHEREAS, Ruth oversaw a program serving more than one million residents and
11 later led to her crowning achievement: the implementation of Louisiana's Medicaid
12 expansion program which resulted in the enrollment of more than four hundred thousand
13 working adults in ten months who otherwise would have faced limited access to health care;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Ruth's leadership strengthened our state's healthcare system and
16 positioned Louisiana as a model for innovation and access nationwide, while also advancing
17 streamlined-eligibility verification programs and hospital systems in Texas and elsewhere,
18 resulting in expanded opportunities for health care; and
19 WHEREAS, Ruth, as a trusted and treasured resource for policymakers and providers
20 across this country, received from her peers, the Dunbar Award in 2015, the highest honor
21 a classified state employee can receive, and was also recognized in Washington D.C. and by
22 the Legislature of Louisiana through resolutions and official documents; and
23 WHEREAS, Ruth helped manage programs throughout the state to certify certain
24 that Medicaid rolls were accurate and updated and that re-enrolled providers in state
25 programs were valid; and
26 WHEREAS, Ruth also set up an accredited continuing education program for
27 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as well as a training program which worked to build
28 a larger base of certified pharmacy technicians statewide; and
29 WHEREAS, Ruth is survived by her sisters, Betty Gay Rena and Regina McCord;
30 her brother, Joseph Kennedy (Sharon); sister-in-law, Loretta Kennedy; special cousin Sharon
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1 Irby Derbins; special niece Kay Kinchen; and many loving nieces and nephews; with special
2 thanks and appreciation to Lena McCarter for all the care and assistance she rendered
3 throughout the years; and
4 WHEREAS, she was preceded in death by her parents, Josephine and Walter
5 Kennedy; siblings, Juanita Kennedy Kinchen and Curtis Kennedy; and brothers-in-law,
6 Willie Kinchen and Woody Rena; and
7 WHEREAS, Ruth was a lifelong and influential member of Blood River Church of
8 God where she faithfully served by teaching and sharing her faith to help shape and inspire
9 the lives of those in her community; and
10 WHEREAS, Josephine Ruth Kennedy will be remembered for her unwaving faith,
11 servant's heart, and her lifelong dedication to helping others along with her legacy of
12 compassion, leadership, and devotion to her family, faith, and community which will
13 continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
15 honor and commemorate the life of Josephine Ruth Kennedy, former Medicaid Director of
16 the Louisiana Department of Health.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
18 Kennedy family.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate 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
SCR 83 Original 2026 Regular Session Edmonds
Expresses condolences upon the passing of Josephine Ruth Kennedy, former Medicaid
Director of the Louisiana Department of Health.
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