Care, cost stressed in Rhode Island initiative

Rhode Island's lieutenant governor has unveiled a healthcare plan that puts as much emphasis on slowing soaring costs as it does on providing universal coverage. The plan, acknowledges that Rhode Island cannot afford to insure all its residents unless it can deliver healthcare more efficiently and raise money through a tax on businesses that do not provide coverage. Experts say that Rhode Island's proposal is part of a trend among states to take a slower approach that addresses costs first, or at least simultaneously with access.