Health Affairs Magazine held a conference to address key issues in health care reform and to discuss facts and fictions about health care legislation. Health Affairs editor-in-chief Susan Dentzer and former surgeons general C. Everett Koop and Richard Carmona, who both participated by phone, delivered opening remarks. Panel one members talked about the federal government's role in U.S. health care, current health financing, and how might this could change under the various proposed reforms. David Colby in his remarks presented historical and current statistical cost information on Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and the uninsured. Gail Wilensky addressed potential changes, which include Medicare, and a shift from the state level to federal and from the legislative branch to the executive. They responded to questions from audience members. Participants in the second panel discussed implications of slowing the rate of growth in Medicare spending and the impact this could have on beneficiaries. Panelists represented the viewpoints of hospitals, doctors, and beneficiaries. Topics included the effects of continued growth on the middle aged, price controls, and spending on chronic care versus cures. The discussion included responses to questions from audience members.