*Doug Elmendorf, Director, Congressional Budget Office
*Glenn Hackbarth, Chairman, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)
*Jack C. Ebeler, Vice Chair, Committee on Health Insurance Status and Its Consequences, Institute of Medicine
*Atul Gawande, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor at the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health
*M. Todd Williamson, MD, President, Medical Association of Georgia. 

In his testimony, Levine indicated that he supports systemic reform of health care and advocates every American having access to affordable health insurance. "However, covering the uninsured by simply expanding government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, without structural reforms, is not a solution, and in fact may make the problem worse particularly from the states' perspective," said Levine.

The Secretary told the committee he believes the solution is structural reform that provides each American with access to health insurance that harnesses the resources and infrastructure of the private sector and government.

"Consumers should have choice, with government acting in its proper role of ensuring transparency, and providing the system with the proper oversight. Rather than segregate the poor into government programs like Medicaid where they are confined, without choice, to poor outcomes, low income Americans could be provided with premium assistance and be permitted to choose their own certified health plan, and have a choice of public or private plans that all meet stringent requirements."

Levine said the heart of the system should be each American having an accountable Medical Home, with payment systems designed to reward primary care physicians who comprehensively manage their patients rather than simply rewarding them for seeing more patients.

Testimony from Levine and the the rest of the panel, can be viewed here.