President Barack Obama has placed US healthcare reform at the top of his domestic agenda, and months of legislative work on the issue have resulted in five bills — three in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate — that proponents believe will move the country in the direction of universal coverage, a fairer insurance system, and slower escalation of healthcare costs. In Part 1 of a symposium co-sponsored by the Journal and the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), health policy expert Henry Aaron explores the promise and limitations of the bills and the outlook for reform. The discussion is moderated by Arnold Epstein of the Journal and the department of health policy and management at HSPH. To listen to Part 2 of this 3-part discussion, click here.