Obama opens healthcare drive

President Barack Obama convened a White House healthcare summit Thursday-- to discuss possible approaches to reform healthcare this year.

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With strong opposition to healthcare reform coming from drug companies and insurers, getting passage of healthcare reform won't be easy. But expanded Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate should help the President immensely.

Jon Decker reports.

STORY:

Seeking momentum to change a costly and inefficient healthcare system he says is dragging down the U.S. economy, President Barack Obama convened a White House healthcare summit Thursday-- to discuss possible approaches to reform healthcare this year.

SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (ENGLISH):

"Making investments in reform now, investments that will dramatically lower costs, won't add to our budget deficits in the long-term--rather, it is one of the best ways to reduce them."

In fact, U.S. healthcare costs have grown to $2.5 trillion annually as the ranks of the uninsured have swollen to some 46 million people.

SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (ENGLISH):

"In this effort, every voice must be heard. Every idea must be considered. Every option must be on the table. There will be no sacred cows in this discussion. Each of us must accept that none of us will get everything we want, and no proposal for reform will be perfect."

With strong opposition to healthcare reform coming from drug companies and insurers, getting passage of healthcare reform won't be easy. But expanded Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate should help the President immensely. And getting healthcare costs under control could help the U.S. as it competes globally.

Boston University's Tom Fiedler.

SOUNDBITE: Tom Fiedler, Dean - Boston University's College of Communication - saying (English):

"With the cost of healthcare weighing down major manufacturers - particularly those in our auto industry - it makes it much more difficult for them to compete against competitors from European countries from Sweden for instance with Volvo and Saab, or Germany with Volkswagen and BMW and others and of course Japan."

President Obama has not presented a specific reform plan to Congress but he has set aside more than $600 billion for he calls a "downpayment" on healthcare reform -- hoping to deliver on a promise that was major element of his presidential campaign.

Jon Decker, Reuters.