Kennedy Back In Washington For Health Care Talks

Sen.Ted Kennedy is back in Washington for the first of President Obama's health care forums. Gov. Patrick will host one later this month.

WBUR's Martha Bebinger reports.

Sen. Kennedy is one of about 50 members of Congress who have what some Washington insiders say is the hottest ticket in town. He is back in D.C. for this event, a series of meetings with staff and colleagues and a belated birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center.

President Obama plans at least six such forums that will bring providers, consumers, insurers, business leaders and members of Congress together to talk about rising health care costs and the need to expand coverage.

President Obama has asked Govs. Deval Patrick and Jim Douglass to co-lead the third one in Vermont later this month. Massachusetts and Vermont are in the midst of statewide efforts to cover the uninsured and improve the quality of health care.

The forum on March 17th in Burlington will drill in on how the experience of these two states might translate to a national health reform plan.