By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama wants the U.S. Congress to send him a sweeping overhaul of the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system by October to help put the struggling U.S. economy on a path of growth.

Below are some questions and answers about the state of play for the legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives, where Democratic leaders, who control the agenda, believe they are on track to meet Obama's goal.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF PLAY IN THE SENATE?

* Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is pushing for strong bipartisan support to help ensure final passage of legislation that could maintain public backing as changes are implemented throughout the healthcare system. He says he is optimistic he will achieve that goal.

* The Finance Committee had hoped to have a bill ready for panel consideration next week but that may slip until after the weeklong July 4 holiday break. Committee members are pushing to bring the cost of the bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated at about $1.6 trillion, down to about $1 trillion over 10 years. That cost would be covered by savings in government health programs and tax increases.

* The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has begun amending draft legislation, and the public sessions are expected to last several days. Senator Christopher Dodd has taken a lead role in managing the bill in that committee in the absence of its chairman, Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer. Dodd and Kennedy have both expressed a desire for a bipartisan bill.

* There is broad agreement on the need to promote disease prevention and to reward hospitals and doctors for providing better quality of care instead of the quantity of services. Those changes would be driven by the government's Medicare insurance program for people 65 and older and the disabled.

* There is also agreement on maintaining employer-provided healthcare coverage. For those without employer-provided insurance, the proposed legislation would set up an insurance exchange -- a clearinghouse -- in which individuals and small businesses could shop for medical plans and compare benefits and prices.