(Des Moines, IA) – Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, will be at Des Moines University on Thursday, August 25, as part of a nationwide tour to discuss Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage. A public forum will take place at 9:30 a.m. in DMU’s Medical Education Center, 3200 Grand Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.
Leavitt’s stop in Des Moines is an effort to reach out to seniors to educate them about the new program, which begins January 1, 2006. Joining Leavitt at DMU will be Senator Chuck Grassley and Congressman Tom Latham. The drug benefit program, while not mandatory, will provide coverage to an estimated 30 million eligible Americans. It will be the first time that Medicare will offer a prescription drug benefit.
Leavitt will also be meeting with local health officials to encourage them to talk to Medicare recipients about the benefits, the plan specifics and the enrollment period (November 15, 2005 – May 15, 2006). For more information about the Medicare prescription program, visit www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov
MEDIA NOTE: Sec. Leavitt will be available for questions immediately following the public forum outside the east door of the Medical Education Center, 3200 Grand Avenue.
