We've heard lots of different takes on how to fix our health care system, but one thing everyone agrees on is controlling spiraling costs is an absolute must. It's perhaps the toughest part of overhauling health care.

We've already heard this week that changing how we pay for the system isn't going to succeed unless we control costs. That's what we'll look into on today's Vermont Edition (at noon and 7pm).

Here are a few numbers:

Health care expenditures have doubled in Vermont in the past decade (2.5 billion to 5 billion dollars) and they're expected to reach 5.9 billion dollars next year.

Roughly 80 cents of the Vermont health care dollar goes to treat chronic conditions like diabetes.

2008 per capita spending on health care by Vermonters was $7,414 (compared to a national average of $7681) and accounted for 18.1 percent of the estimated Gross State Product By next year, it's expected to reach $9,463.

You'll find many of these figures in a report to the legislature on payment reform here: www.leg.state.vt.us/reports/2011ExternalReports/264991.pdf

Here are a some ideas for bending the cost curve:

Change the way doctors and hospitals are paid to better reward preventative care and good outcomes.

Improve chronic care. Vermont Blueprint For Health has been working on this for a few years - we'll find out what progress has been made.

Get patients to take more responsibility for their own care and make healthier lifestyle choices.

Make the system more efficient through use of electronic records and reduction in administrative expenses.

Today on the program we'll talk about these and other ideas. Listen and post your comments.