As he promised on the campaign trail, again on Tuesday night with a joint appearance before Congress, Pres. Obama's budget contains a blueprint for health reform. Anticipated savings will come from trimming excessive payments for programs such as Medicare Advantage and negotiating with drug companies for Medicaid, as well as providing coverage for the 60 million Americans who go without insurance during any 12-month period. Obama's proposal promises to "fundamentally reform our health care system." And he highlighted prevention for many conditions while noting that "substance addiction" was a "preventable and treatable chronic condition." Yet only 4 cents of every dollar currently goes to prevention for this and other chronic conditions leading to premature death in the world's most expensive system but not the one with the best outcomes.

What he said about mental health was mostly implied, except for recommendations about improved services for soldiers and vets. Specifically:

•Department of Defense registry listing those with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD;

•mobile health centers, with expansion for screening and treatment in rural areas ;

•expedited processing unclogging the evaluation system that has created delays of treatment up to six months;

•integration of mental health professionals in deployed units.

Carrying a jaw-dropping $634 billion in reserve, the president calls this a "long overdue investment in priorities." Reactions have been swift and many. A few:

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Cal.) Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Republican Leader.

Karen Ignagni, President of the America's Health Insurance Plan.

Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health.

Billy Tauzin, President and CEO, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).