Moran Discusses Kansas Health Care With HHS Secretary Leavitt

MORAN DISCUSSES KANSAS HEALTH CARE WITH HHS SECRETARY LEAVITT
Meeting Allows Moran to Convey Concerns Over Medicare, Medicaid Funding

Congressman Jerry Moran today met with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt, to discuss Moran's concerns about funding for Medicare and Medicaid. Congress is currently considering funding levels for the two heavily relied upon programs.

"The decisions made by HHS and Secretary Leavitt are tremendously important to Kansans, and I wanted to convey the concerns I hear from people in our state," Moran said after the meeting. "The costs of prescription drugs and basic health care services are increasing, making Medicare and Medicaid all the more important."

In the meeting, Moran discussed the levels of funding he and Congress are currently considering for both Medicaid and Medicare in 2006. Medicaid reform has come under scrutiny this year, and Moran shared with the Secretary his concerns about how possible changes to the program could affect Kansans. In addition, Moran let the Secretary know that continuing appropriate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements is critical to maintaining and improving beneficiaries' access to health care services, especially in rural areas.

Moran also discussed the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which is set to go into effect on January 1, 2006. Moran conveyed to the Secretary that many Kansans have expressed reluctance to sign up for the program due in part to a lack of information.

"Congress and the administration must work towards solutions to not only see that Americans have adequate health coverage, but also to lower the underlying costs of health care services," Moran concluded.

Secretary Leavitt is the former governor of Utah and was sworn in as the Secretary of Health and Human Services this past January.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ks01_moran/pr060905LeavittMeeting.html