Almost everyone seems to agree that our health care system is in crisis and needs to be reformed.  But after that, there is little consensus about the causes of the crisis and how to change the system.  What are the fundamental challenges that we face in both the public and private sectors? What are the obstacles to reform? What can government agencies like the General Accounting Office, Congressional Budget Office, and private think tanks do to help policymakers confront this crisis and take effective action?

David M. Walker, comptroller general and head of the General Accounting Office, will present the GAO's plan to help congressional policymakers systematically evaluate proposed health care reforms. The plan develops criteria to assess issues relating to cost, access, quality, and implementation-the greatest challenges to building an effective health care system.