The Senate Finance Committee this week held the first in a series of at least eight hearings on health care reform. The first hearing featured testimony from former Health and Human Services Secretaries Tommy Thompson and Donna Shalala. Thompson testified that initial reform should focus more narrowly on revamping Medicare. While Shalala disagreed with the narrow focus, she did argue that fixing Medicare should be a key component of any health system reform.

The hearings are designed to help the Finance Committee “prepare for the challenge of building consensus.” Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.),  cited what he called the “consensus” factors: universal coverage, reducing costs, payment incentives for rewarding quality and efficiency, and greater use of health information technology.

The Finance Committee plans to have two more health overhaul hearings before hosting a June 16 “summit” for the entire Congress. The ACC is closely following the hearings and looking for opportunities to provide testimony.