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.
Judith Graham of the Chicago Tribune's "Triage" posts two lists (here and here) of "fundamental" health reform questions.
John Goodman on his Health Policy Blog looks at a new National Center for Policy Analysis report on predicted funding shortfalls for Medicare and Social Security.
Gooz News' Merrill Goozner looks at health services sector job growth, saying health care legislation that includes "more systemic reforms that might curb the health care system's voracious growth" is unlikely because the sector is adding jobs during an economic downturn.
Sarah Arnquist of the Health Care Blog looks at Gov. Sarah Palin's (R-Alaska) proposal to expand SCHIP and provide funding for other health initiatives in the state.
Jason Shafrin of the Healthcare Economist discusses Medicare's prospect payment system and looks at an example where Medicare could cut costs by changing reimbursement for end-stage renal disease treatment.
Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters predicts the number of uninsured will rise to 50 million by next summer after reviewing new unemployment numbers that showed 637,000 people lost their jobs last month.
John Hood on the National Review Online's The Corner lists "essential reading" from both sides of the political spectrum on health reform.
Paul Testa of the New America Foundation's New Health Dialogue reports on comments about health reform during a NAF event on "Social Policy After the Economic Crisis."
Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic's The Plank discusses the "pre-uninsured," or individuals who are about to lose their health insurance, and how this affects their treatment requests.
Alicia Mundy on the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog reports on secret shoppers hired around the nation to verify compliance with Medicare Advantage plan marketing guidelines.
