KANSAS CITY—The newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sibelius, felt obligated to answer President Obama’s call to work with him on the pressing health care challenges facing Americans.
Sibelius brings to the position proven leadership skills, the ability to make changes to turn tough economic times around, and heartland values she holds dear. “I am proud to be joining a President who has close ties to our state—raised by Kansas women—and understands the values of faith, family, and community that are so important in the heartland,” Sibelius said in a farewell video address to Kansans as she stepped down as Governor of Kansas. She won re-election in 2006.
Her father, John Gilligan was a former Ohio Governor, making them the first father-daughter to be elected as governors. Her father-in-law is former U.S. Representative Keith Sebelius, a Republican. She is said to be a moderate Democrat known to rally support from both Democrats and Republicans. During the recession of the last 18 months,her plate has been filled with the economy recovery issues.
She left her job in Washington D.C. over 34 years ago to marry Gary Sibelius, now federal magistrate judge. “We have made Topeka [Kansas] our home for over three decades, Sibelius said. “Gary and I raised our boys in this community. And I have been involved in public service here since 1987, when the people of Kansas first sent me into this building as a member of the House of Representatives.”
Sibelius stated in her Governor’s farewell address that the challenges she now faces as Secretary of HHS are to find the means to provide affordable health care to all Americans, and providing essential services to vulnerable populations and at the same time maximum our resources. Those vulnerable populations are being served by Medicare and Medicaid are under the direction of HHS.
“Medicaid covers the health and long term care of 52 million low income persons and pays for nearly one in five health care dollars and one in two nursing home dollars,” according to Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. “Medicare pays for over half of the beneficiaries of medical and long term care services. “ It covers 42 million seniors. Both Medicaid and Medicare have price tags of over 300 billion.
