Guinn to weigh health issues during recovery

Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002 | 10:53 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, released from the hospital Wednesday after prostate surgery, said today he intends to start working "on the strategy of Medicaid and health care," which are facing budget overruns.

The governor, resting at his Las Vegas home, said he got up this morning "took a shower and ate a good breakfast. The doctor said I tested very well," said Guinn, 66, who had his cancerous prostate removed Monday at UCLA Medical Center.

On Friday next week, he will have X-rays, and if everything is all right, "I will be out on my own," he said. The normal recovery time is 12 days to three weeks, Guinn said. In the meantime, he said this recovery period will give him a chance for quiet study of the state issues.

Guinn's chief of staff, Marybel Batjer, said she will be forwarding to him correspondence and budget documents for his study. Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care to the poor, is estimated to be $26 million in the hole by the end of this fiscal year next June 30. And some of the other health programs are facing budget problems because of higher than expected enrollments.

The governor said this surgery and rest period should not slow his re-election campaign. His polling numbers are high and many preparations have been completed for the final five weeks of the campaign.

Peter Ernaut, a spokesman for the Guinn campaign, said the governor has worked hard and has visited many areas of the state.

"Two weeks of rest and relaxation won't disrupt the campaign," Ernaut said. Television commercials were filmed in the last two weeks in anticipation of Guinn entering the hospital.

"We're prepared with what we need to finish out the campaign," Ernaut said.

The governor said he was "not trying to hide anything" when he checked into UCLA Medical Center under an assumed name. "We needed a day and a half to be withdrawn," he said.

The news of his surgery was released several hours after it was completed. During a routine annual physical examination, a biopsy showed Guinn had an elevated PSA level of 5.4. A normal reading would be 4 for a person of the governor's age.

Guinn said his case "shows the value of early detection." After getting a lot of advice, he said he chose the treatment best for him and his family.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Jean deKernion, chairman of the UCLA Department of Urology, who has performed between 1,000 and 2,000 of these surgeries.

Dr. Ikram Kahn of Las Vegas, who accompanied Guinn to UCLA and became his medical spokesman, said the governor's chances for recovery are excellent. He said the governor will be cared for by his family physician, Dr. Sarah Smith.