HJBR Nov/Dec 2023

One on One Stephen Russo As secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, Stephen Russo leads the state’s largest agency with a budget of $19.1 billion and a team responsible for delivering services to millions of Louisianans. LDH protects and promotes health for Louisiana residents through services provided by Medicaid and the Offices of Public Health, Behavioral Health, Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Aging and Adult Services, Women’s Health and Community Health, and Emergency Preparedness. These programs work to ensure access to medical, preventative, and rehabilitative services for Louisiana’smost vulnerable residents. Russo has served LDH for 27 years. Prior to his current role as secretary, Russo served as executive counsel and director of Legal, Audit and Regulatory Compliance (LARC). As director of LARC, Russo oversaw the Bureau of Legal Services, Internal Audit, Program Integrity, and Health Standards Section. He served as executive counsel for 15 years. During his tenure at LDH, Russo has litigated many high-profile cases and testified numerous times before the Louisiana Legislature. Russo, a Baton Rouge native and graduate of Catholic High School, received both a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science in accounting from Louisiana State University. Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2023 9