U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to Discuss Value Added Healthcare With VCU Graduate Students

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley and HHS Press Office

WHO:     HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt
             Virginia Commonwealth University President Eugene P. Trani

WHAT:   Discussion on value added health care with VCU graduate students

WHEN:   Thursday, September 21, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
 Introduction by President Trani and remarks by Secretary Leavitt followed by Q&A with students

MEDIA AVAILABILITY TO FOLLOW DISCUSSION AT 4:45 P.M.

WHERE:  Virginia Commonwealth University
                  University Meeting Center
                  101 N. Harrison Street
                  Richmond, Virginia

BACKGROUND:         

One month ago, President Bush launched an initiative to make the health care system more transparent, so Americans can get more information about the quality and cost of their care.  Since that announcement, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has been meeting with stakeholders from all across the health care sector and all around the country – medical professionals, employers, consumers, and policy experts – to gain their insight on how the Federal government and the private sector can work together to help Americans find better value in their health care.

This meeting provides an opportunity for Secretary Leavitt to have an open dialogue with VCU graduate students on the issue. To learn more about value-driven health care, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/transparency/.

To learn more about President Bush's announcement and the Executive Order, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060822.html.