Keith Hennessey provides some nice background and analysis of the health care debate that is heating up in Washington.  This chart provides the frame for the debate between “universal coverage” and “controlling costs”:

 As Keith puts together, by focusing on the “red box” (controlling costs) we are benefitting the entire nation and hitting the center of the problem.  Focusing on the “blue box” (universal coverage) only effects one portion of the problem and, without first tackling cost control exacerbates the problem by putting more people into the bloated system.

Keith also has some in-depth analysis about the demographic makeup of the 45.7M “uninsured”, and the potential use of the reconciliation process in the Senate as an attempt to pass health care reform with only 50 votes.

Finally, on controlling costs, the Economist has a special report on “Health Care and Technology” this week.  The Economist clearly lays out that by putting information about health care options in consumers (patients) hands, and by matching costs with benefits, technology can begin to pare down the runaway inflation in health care costs.