Over the past year, few public issues have received as much attention as health care reform. It is considered by most segments of society to be one of this nation's most critical needs. Though recent months have moved the discussion about skyrocketing costs and unequal access to good health care into a highly politicized arena, the issues ring an all too familiar tone to people working in public health. Though new tools for prevention are identified regularly, their implementation is too often hampered by the absence of resources and the inefficiency of existing infrastructures. This session will focus on the health care reform debate in this country, the context it creates, and the role of public health – including STD prevention - as a critical component of any effective reform measures.