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Boston.com - Political Intelligence

March 6, 2009

More healthcare wonkfests on tap

By Foon Rhee, Deputy national political editor

Following up Thursday's summit at the White House, the Obama administration announced today a series of regional events to continue gathering ideas on a healthcare overhaul.

They will be later this month and early next month and be hosted by the governors of California, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Vermont..

“Health care reform is a fiscal imperative,” Obama said in a statement. “Skyrocketing health care costs are draining our federal budget, undermining our long-term economic prosperity and devastating American families. The time for reform is now and these regional forums are some of the key first steps toward breaking the stalemate we have been stuck in for far too long. The forums will bring together diverse groups of people all over the country who have a stake in reforming our health care system and ask them to put forward their best ideas about how we bring down costs and expand coverage for American families.”

Like the White House version, the regional forums will include doctors, patients, providers, policy analysts, and others. The events will begin with a video from Obama, a summary of the findings from community gatherings in December, and an overview of Thursday's summit.