The President’s Task Force on National Health Care Reform took testimony from representatives of senior citizens groups and health care consumer groups in the first panel of its first public hearing. The task force, made up of White House advisers and Cabinet officials and headed by First Lady Hillary Clinton, was expected to submit its recommendations for national health care reform in May. Ms. Clinton was unable to attend the meeting due to illness in her family. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Gore in her place, though he is not an official member of the task force.