Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick addressed a group of congressional staff and health care policy experts at a Capitol Hill forum. Dr. Berwick outlined his health care policy plan which strives to provide better care and health for populations while reducing per capita costs. He also emphasized the need to understand variations in health care and cost and noted the importance of the recently passed Affordable Care Act. President Obama appointed Dr. Berwick with a recess appointment, avoiding the need for Senate confirmation, because his nomination to the position had been held up in the Senate.