The pitfalls of overreaching in health reform

Although fundamental reform of U.S. health care is clearly necessary, the obstacles remain daunting. These include the sheer size of the health sector, the multiplicity of powerful groups with conflicting interests, and the factionalized U.S. political system. Because the nation can ill afford to come away empty-handed from another reform effort, it is vital that the new administration focus on achievable steps that will support and encourage a process of reform. Doing so would lay the groundwork for a series of changes that may take a generation, instead of risking everything on the highly unlikely passage of one "big bill."