We want to encourage our readers to attend our big event next Wednesday, July 23, titled "Making Medicare Sustainable: Transforming Our Health Program for America's Seniors." It will be hosted by Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program and Robert Berenson, MD, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute. (Dr. Berenson has also guest blogged for us in the past.)

This day-long event will be the launching pad for our Medicare Reform Project. As you've probably heard us (and others) discuss, rising health care costs and retiring baby boomers will make improving and sustaining Medicare a salient issue during the next president's first term. To respond to these challenges, Medicare needs to become a smarter purchaser (and wiser utilizer) of health care. How can that happen?

The event will focus on recently commissioned policy papers that offer solutions for making Medicare more affordable and sustainable. Drs. Nichols and Berenson will be joined by top academics, including nationally recognized physicians, economists, legislators, as well as leading policy experts from across the ideological spectrum.

Please consider joining us for what we hope will be a thoughtful conversation. To view more details or to RSVP, click here.