Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Feature Highlights Recent Blog Entries
While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics. To provide complete coverage of health policy issues, the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report offers readers a window into the world of blogs in a roundup of health policy-related blog posts. "Blog Watch," published on Tuesdays and Fridays, tracks a wide range of blogs, providing a brief description and relevant links for highlighted posts.
The American Prospect's Ezra Klein suggests how the insurance industry could be treated in the reform of the health care system. He asserts that the "fundamental problem" with U.S. health care is the cost of care itself, not coverage.
Dean Baker on The Guardian's Comment Is Free argues that the U.S. government should "spend large amounts right now" to get the "health care system in order," which he says also would help boost the economy.
Health Populi's Jane Sarasohn-Kahn looks at a new report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans that found 64% of employers surveyed think employer-sponsored insurance should continue to be the primary source of the benefit for employees.
Brian Klepper on The Health Care Blog says that businesses should unite in a "common interest" for health care reform that could "overwhelm" any health care industry opposition.
Merton Bernstein on the National Academy for Social Insurance's Policies to Promote Economic Security for Families blog looks at the difference in administrative costs between Medicare and private insurers, saying the differences "argue for locating insurance where it costs least."
Joanne Kenen on the New America Foundation's New Health Dialogue looks at a study in the International Journal of Health Services that found the uninsured are about 20 times more likely to donate a liver or kidney than to receive one.
Anna Wilde Mathews of the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog looks at COBRA and reports many employees have difficulty affording their employer-based policy after losing their jobs.
Several bloggers commented on President-elect Barack Obama's reported choice of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) for secretary of HHS:
- Igor Volsky on the Center for American Progress Action Fund's Wonk Room points to Daschle's support of a "federal health board," along with his proposals to strengthen Medicaid, provide more federal subsidies for purchasing health insurance, increase the value of care and improve the health care infrastructure.
- Merrill Goozner of Gooz News says, "President-elect Barack Obama sent a clear signal that he is serious about pursuing health care reform legislation in the new year. Whether it will be comprehensive reform or piecemeal improvements remains to be seen."
- Bob Laszewski on Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review says, "A Daschle appointment would make clear that President-elect Obama does not intend to cede this process entirely to the Congress. It would also indicate that it will be HHS that will take the health care policy lead on behalf of the administration -- not White House staff."
- Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic's The Plank calls HHS secretary the "perfect role" for Daschle, noting that Daschle's book on health reform "urges precisely the sorts of reforms President-elect Obama and his congressional allies are promoting right now."
