Medicare Chief McClellan to leave office in ‘about five weeks’…McClellan orchestrated problematic Part D, Doughnut Hole…Bush Administration hasn’t chosen successor…Call for action to allow Legislative oversight to nominating process

WASHINGTON Sep 5, 2006 — Dr. Mark McClellan, who as head of Medicare and Medicaid programs, orchestrated the problematic Part D, Doughnut Hole and signups for Medicare Part D, but retained the favor of the Bush Administration, today said he is resigning “in about five weeks”.

According to White House statements, McClellan has made his wishes to leave known for some time.

Daniel Hines, publisher of www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com, a leading informational web site for America's seniors, called on President Bush to make known his choice to succeed McClellan so that Congress can provide oversight to the nomination process.

“This Administration has a sorry record of responding to situations that demand its attention,” Hines said.  “Now, as untold number of America’s seniors enter the Doughnut Hole, being forced to pay premiums for a ‘benefit’ which they are being denied, it is imperative that the  Bush Administration pay attention to the needs of America’s seniors, and that policy makers have some inkling of the type of person the President has in mind to succeed McClellan.

“It will be interesting to see if the President—who chooses to ignore part of laws that he signs off on, claiming that he has the right to do so by executive fiat, and who is known for recess appointments, when he can act without having to subject his appointments to legislative scrutiny--will do so with this important selection, waiting until Congress adjourns to deal with Election 2006 issues.”

 “The question that must be asked is: Will this President appoint someone who has the health interests of all Americans in mind, including the elderly, or will the new head of Medicare be someone who is closely aligned with the pharmaceutical manufacturers?,” Hines says.