The US economy has been in recession for more than a year, the unemployment rate is climbing, the ranks of the uninsured are growing rapidly, and healthcare provider organizations are feeling the squeeze. What help can the federal government offer as part of the economic stimulus package? What will the increasing pressure mean for proposed healthcare reforms? And is there any silver lining in the clouds for the future of the US healthcare system? In a roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Thomas Lee, three experts in health policy, economics, and healthcare delivery — Drs. James Mongan, Jonathan Oberlander, and Meredith Rosenthal — explore the current and likely effects of the recession on US healthcare and the prospects for systemic change.