Medicare Spending on Patients Varies Widely by State, Region (US News & World Report)
New map reveals regional differences; more treatment doesn't necessarily mean better health.

Obama unveils multi-trillion-dollar spending plan that hikes taxes on rich, curtail Medicare (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama unveiled a multi-trillion-dollar spending plan Thursday that would boost taxes on the wealthy, curtail Medicare, lay the groundwork for universal health care and leave a string of deficits dwarfing any in the nation's history.