Healthcare landscape takes shape

Key White House appointments announced last week, along with statements by President Barack Obama, members of Congress and influential stakeholders at a White House summit, provide a clearer view of the topography of the healthcare reform debate and reveal several fault lines.

Obama's nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be secretary of Health and Human Services and his appointment of Nancy-Ann DeParle as counselor to the president and director of the White House Office for Health Reform make it clear the administration's healthcare policy will be directed from the White House rather than from HHS...