Obama and Republican nominee Romney are both ducking unpopular choices on the way health care is provided, said Bob Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, an Arlington, Virginia-based group that is an advocate for action to lower federal deficits.

“Are we overcompensating physicians? Are we over-treating patients? Is there too much intensity of service or are end-of- life services too high?” Bixby cited as examples.