In an effort to accelerate healthcare reform efforts, President Obama plans to address a joint session of Congress next Wednesday.

During the session, he is expected to provide more detail about his ideas for healthcare reform. News reports have indicated that people are hungry for more information about healthcare reform proposals, what those proposals would cost, and how they would affect Americans. The president is expected to comment more on the legislation that is under discussion, as opposed to his own detailed proposal, an administration policy expert said, according to The Washington Post. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reportedly is looking forward to the president mapping out a course for passage of legislation.

It appears that Democrats are struggling to regain control of the healthcare reform debate. Disruptive town hall meetings last month revealed seniors’ concerns over Medicare cuts and general worries about the cost of reform. So far, three House committees have passed versions of healthcare reform. Legislation has been stagnating in the Senate. A bipartisan group of senators, known as the “Group of Six,” is scheduled to confer on Friday. They have been unable so far to arrive at a compromise.