Reports National Journal:
Leavitt, the former Utah governor, is mild-mannered and not known for partisan rancor. A Mormon, he combines policy wonkery with political skill. If Romney wins, Leavitt would have a big role in implementing the health reforms that the campaign is proposing. As HHS secretary in the Bush years, he led the rollout of the Medicare prescription-drug benefit known as Part D—now one of the most popular components of the program.
The Part D plan reflects the Republican philosophy that increasing competition for consumers’ health care dollars among private insurers will lower health care costs. That theory underpins Romney’s arguments that seniors should be able to choose among private insurance companies’ plans.
Medicare reform is an issue near and dear to Leavitt’s heart: In an old biography from the HHS website, he warned of disaster in both Medicare and Medicaid and said it was crucial to put them on a more sustainable path.
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