President Barack Obama is to take on the bitter healthcare reform debate with a high-stakes speech to the US Congress tonight on his top domestic policy priority.
Aides have promised Mr Obama's nationally televised address will provide specifics about his vision for overhauling the $2.5 trillion US healthcare system - although they said he will not offer his own legislation.
"The president will outline his plan moving forward," both on healthcare and how to get a bill passed by Congress, said spokesman Robert Gibbs. "I don't think you'll walk away confused about where he is."
Mr Obama told ABC News in an interview he would use his speech to "make sure that Democrats and Republicans understand that I'm open to new ideas, that we're not being rigid and ideological about this thing, but we do intend to get something done this year."
One administration official said the president would articulate his vision of bringing affordable coverage to those who do not have insurance and more security to those who do.
"His plan will bring reforms that will reduce the unsustainable growth in the cost of health care, which has doubled in the last decade and will again, unless we act," said the official, who requested anonymity.
Elected in November on a platform of change, Mr Obama has proposed cutting healthcare costs and expanding coverage to the 46 million Americans without health insurance.
But his fellow Democrats, who have solid majorities in both houses of Congress, have struggled to craft a reform bill while most Republicans have fought it.
Insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, hospital managers - and average American patients - all have huge stakes in how the battle plays out.
Mr Obama's speech marks a new approach in the White House's effort to strike a deal after a summer of sometimes angry words and concern over the scope and cost of the healthcare overhaul dampening the president’s approval ratings in opinion polls.
Its success or failure could help define the rest of his term and perhaps his presidency after Republicans took control of the healthcare debate during the summer with attacks on Democratic proposals during congressional town meetings.
Mr Obama discussed healthcare with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday afternoon. The two Democrats expressed optimism after the meeting that a reform measure would pass.