Health and Human Services Secretary to meet with Governor

January 19, 2006

Gov. Kenny Guinn will meet with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt in Las Vegas on Thursday, January 19, to discuss problems that seniors in Nevada may be having with their Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. Gov. Guinn will be joined by Nevada Department of Human Resources Director Mike Willden and other state officials, who will help bring Secretary Leavitt up to speed on problems being reported in Nevada by seniors who have had difficulty filling prescriptions and other related issues. Secretary Leavitt has been touring the nation meeting with state leaders to discuss Medicare-related issues.

It’s estimated that 28 to 30 million Americans will enroll for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage within the first year of the program, making it the largest change to Medicare in its 40 year history. Since November 15th, a total of 24 million beneficiaries have enrolled. On average, more than one million prescriptions are filled through this program every day.