The state has set up an insurance clearing-house with subsidised products in the hope of reining in health-cost inflation, but costs look set to soar again this year.

ECONOMIST: Health care

My understanding is that the White House's position has always been that it favours a public option, thinks a public option is a good idea, wants to see a public option in a bill, and also wants to sign a health reform bill that passes congress, covers the uninsured, and reduces long-run health cost inflation relative to current baseline projections.

BBC: Obama may soften healthcare plan

Mr Swinney is protecting the NHS - but health service professionals warn that high cost inflation will erode that.

BBC: The Scottish budget fight begins

Meanwhile, Pathmark gets relief from its biggest problem--a bloated cost structure driven by wage and health care inflation.

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