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{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person

|name=Rebekah Elizabeth Gee<br>​

|name=Rebekah Elizabeth Gee​

(Former director of the Louisiana Health Department who expanded Medicaid enrollments)​

(Former director of the Louisiana Health Department who expanded Medicaid enrollments)​

|birth_date=December 4, 1975​

|birth_date=December 4, 1975​

'''Alma mater''':<br>

'''Alma mater''':<br>

[[Columbia University]]<br>

[[Columbia University]]<br>

Columbia School of Public Healoth<br>

Columbia School of Public Health<br>

[[Cornell University]]<br>

[[Cornell University]]<br>

[[University of Pennsylvania]]

[[University of Pennsylvania]]

'''Rebekah Elizabeth Gee''' (born December 4, 1975) is a [[physician]] who is the outgoing director of the [[Louisiana]] Department of Health. She assumed her position in 2016 in the first term of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].  Though Edwards maintains a "[[pro-life]]" political position, Gee supports [[abortion]].<ref name=mballard>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_b0243d84-9368-59ef-bd30-f9f7f8bdc58a.html|title=Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards names Dr. Rebekah E. Gee health chief -- causing unease for anti-abortion groups|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Mark Ballard|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref>

'''Rebekah Elizabeth Gee''' (born December 4, 1975) is a [[physician]] who is the outgoing director of the [[Louisiana]] Department of Health. She assumed her position in 2016 in the first term of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].  Though Edwards maintains a "[[pro-life]]" political position, Gee supports [[abortion]].<ref name=mballard>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_b0243d84-9368-59ef-bd30-f9f7f8bdc58a.html|title=Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards names Dr. Rebekah E. Gee health chief -- causing unease for anti-abortion groups|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Mark Ballard|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref>

At the start of his administration, Edwards ordered Gee to expand the state's [[Medicaid]] rolls.  "Under her leadership, we brought health care to more than 460,000 hard-working adults who now have access to the medical services they need to live healthier lives, to fight chronic illness and, in some  cases, survive." Edwards said.<ref> name=ghilburn{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/01/06/louisiana-health-secretary-rebekah-gee-who-oversaw-john-bel-edwardes-medicaid-expansion-resigns/2825088001/|title=Louisiana Secretary of Health Rebekah Gee, who oversaw Medicaid expansion, resigns|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref> [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Neely Kennedy]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] critic of the Edwards administration, questioned Gee's spending of $200 million on ineligible  Medicaid recipients. Kennedy dubbed Gee "incompetent" and called for her resignation.<ref name=ghilburn/>  

At the start of his administration, Edwards ordered Gee to expand the state's [[Medicaid]] rolls.  "Under her leadership, we brought health care to more than 460,000 hard-working adults who now have access to the medical services they need to live healthier lives, to fight chronic illness and, in some  cases, survive." Edwards said.<ref name=ghilburn>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/01/06/louisiana-health-secretary-rebekah-gee-who-oversaw-john-bel-edwardes-medicaid-expansion-resigns/2825088001/|title=Louisiana Secretary of Health Rebekah Gee, who oversaw Medicaid expansion, resigns|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref> [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Neely Kennedy]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] critic of the Edwards administration, questioned Gee's spending of $200 million on ineligible  Medicaid recipients. Kennedy dubbed Gee "incompetent" and called for her resignation.<ref name=ghilburn/>  

In 2016, Benjamin Clapper, director of Louisiana Right-to-Life, questioned Gee's 2007 curriculum vitae while she was a clinical student at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] at [[Philadelphia]]. She delivered a speech in February 2003 at the  National Abortion Rights Action League, which is not listed in her 2012 resume with the [[Louisiana State University]] Health Sciences Center in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=mballard/> The Reverend Gene Mills, president of the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum, said that he found it "ironic that the most pro-life state [Louisiana] in the nation has received, somewhat in a clandestine fashion, a very aggressive advocate for the abortion position. I find that not coincidental."<ref name=mballard/>

In 2016, Benjamin Clapper, director of Louisiana Right-to-Life, questioned Gee's 2007 curriculum vitae while she was a clinical student at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] at [[Philadelphia]]. She delivered a speech in February 2003 at the  National Abortion Rights Action League, which is not listed in her 2012 resume with the [[Louisiana State University]] Health Sciences Center in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=mballard/> The Reverend Gene Mills, president of the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum, said that he found it "ironic that the most pro-life state [Louisiana] in the nation has received, somewhat in a clandestine fashion, a very aggressive advocate for the abortion position. I find that not coincidental."<ref name=mballard/>

Louisiana state Republican chairman Louis Gurvich hailed Gee's departure and urged Edwards to appoint "an official who actually shares his purported pro-life beliefs," which are "deeply held by the vast majority of Louisianans."<ref name=ghilburn/>

Louisiana state Republican chairman Louis Gurvich hailed Gee's departure and urged Edwards to appoint "an official who actually shares his purported pro-life beliefs," which are "deeply held by the vast majority of Louisianans."<ref name=ghilburn/>