"President Obama has been thrown back on his original theory. If he is going to sustain his agenda, if he is going to prevent national insolvency, he has to control health care costs. Health care costs are now the crucial issue of his whole presidency."

Obama's team are emphasizing restraining costs even as health coverage is expanded.  Here's his 'game-changers,' as he calls them: Improving health information technology
•    Expanding wellness programs
•    Expanding preventive medicine
•    Changing reimbursement policies so hospitals are penalized for poor outcomes
•    Instituting comparative effectiveness measures.

However, moat experts are skeptical; "They are expensive to set up and even if they work, it would take a long time for cumulative efficiencies to have much effect."

^{Brooks D. "Fiscal Suicide Ahead"  NY Times (May 15, 2009)}