Is Health Care Reform in the Rear View Mirror?

This the scary realization that $1 out of every $5 spent in the United States will be going towards health care by the year 2020 (Stat. by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)). The importance of passing a comprehensive health care reform bill is even more pertinent. We as Americans need to address this issue to maintain our current level of quality care while at the same time reduce the overall cost.

In an effort to resuscitate the health care reform bill, President Obama has invited Republicans and Democrats to the White House for a February 25 summit. Whether this is just a way to encourage the passing of the current version of House's health care reform bill or to announce that health care reform is dead for 2010. The President truly believes he can get the patients up and moving again, "We've got to finish the job on health care. We've got to finish the job on financial regulatory reform. We got to finish the job, even though it's hard."

Senator elect Scott Brown (MA) was officially sworn into office on February 4, ahead of schedule to weaken the Democrats' supermajority in the Senate with a 59-41 chair difference.