TOPEKA ? President Bush’s top health officlal today stated that the new Medicare drug program is improving.

“Things, frankly, are getting smoother every day,” Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said.

Leavitt has been visiting states to try to calm concerns where senior citizens have had trouble getting their presciptions filled under the new Medicare Part D that started Jan. 1.

In recent weeks, pharmacies have been unable to confirm coverage, refills have been limited and telephone lines have been clogged for hours to get information.

In Kansas, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stepped in and had the state pay for medicine for beneficiaries who were having trouble with the program.

Federal officials have said the state will be reimbursed for any costs.

Leavitt and U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., met with pharmacists today, including Chad Ullom, pharmacy manager at a downtown Walgreen Drug Store.

Ullom said processing prescriptions under the plan was improving. “It was a nightmare in the beginning,” he said.

Leavitt said while the program has experienced problems, it is the most important change in the history of Medicare.

“We will have changd health care in this country in a significant way in less than 25 days,” he said.