WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he's "very optimistic" about the prospects for legislation revamping health care, arguing that the country simply must control skyrocketing costs in this field.

He told a news conference th at unless the government acts now, the country will spend $1 out of every $5 on health care within the next 10 years. Obama commented in the wake of several days of work — and political wrangling — in Congress over the transformation he seeks in the way people get medical care in this country.

Despite sharp differences between Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill over what role the government would play in a new health care system, Obama said he hopes "Congress will continue to make significant progress on this issue" in the weeks ahead.