Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, said Tuesday, December 9, that he would stay in office through the 2004 elections but would resign before the new Medicare drug benefit becomes available in January 2006.
Mr. Thompson said it would be "very difficult" to meet all the deadlines set by the new law, which calls for the biggest changes in Medicare since its creation in 1965. But he said he was confident that with a little luck Medicare officials could comply with the timetable set by Congress.
"I can assure you that I won't be here in January 2006," Mr. Thompson said. "But I will have everything set up and operating smoothly before I leave."
Mr. Thompson said his department would receive $1 billion to help carry out "the huge responsibility" of the new law.