The timing of this lecture is appropriate. The nation has a new president and a new secretary of health and human services. Therefore, it is important to articulate the direction of the Bush administration's health care policies. Because the quality and cost of health care have become more visible and complex national issues, the challenges and opportunities facing the Department of Health and Human Services deserve careful scrutiny as never before.In this lecture I would like to discuss five priorities of immediate concern. Undoubtedly, there are others of importance. But these five concerns present national health care challenges and . . .