Rebekah Gee
Dr. Rebekah Gee is the Medicaid Medical Director for the state of Louisiana. She is an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Louisiana State University. Dr. Gee has served as chair or co-chair of several national committees on maternity quality and prematurity reduction for CMS, HRSA and ACOG. Dr. Gee is the health policy resident expert for the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology and serves on the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Board of Health Care Services.
She is the recipient of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs 2012 State Leadership in Maternal and Child Health award. In 2014, Dr. Gee received the Woman of the Year award from New Orleans City Business, was recognized as a “40 under 40” leader for New Orleans, a New Orleans “Healthcare Hero” and received the American Medical Student Association “Women in Leadership” award. Dr. Gee is clinically active and is caring for patients at LSU. She lives in New Orleans and is the mother of five energetic children.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
