Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 19, 2008.

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.  Click title to read more…

Bob Sunshine of the Congressional Budget Office’s Director’s Blog summarizes key conclusions of two new CBO health policy reports.

The American Prospect’s Ezra Klein looks at political disagreements over the role of a public insurer in health reform, saying, “If you’re looking for the coming fault line on the left of health care politics, keep an eye on what happens to the public insurance option in the health reform bill.” Igor Volsky of the Center for American Progress Action Fund’s Wonk Room points out reasons to include a public plan.

Sherice Perry on Families USA’s Stand Up for Health Care looks at new Medicare regulations and how they might reduce health disparities in the program.

Gooz News’ Merrill Goozner looks at a new Dartmouth College white paper that recommends premiums for any new plan for the uninsured be based on regional health care costs.

Rick Peters on the Health Care Blog in response to news that President-elect Barack Obama may invest $50 billion in health information technology says, “Do not pour more money into this industry without completely rethinking how we drive innovation.”

Bob Laszewski of Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review says there is a lot of “‘irrational exuberance’ over health care reform,” which could derail a bill because “we do not have consensus in this country on what a real health care reform bill should look like.” Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters looks at chances for health reform and says “2009 will be the most significant year for health legislation since 1964,” but, “What we don’t need is a pell-mell rush to pass universal coverage and worry about costs later.”

Michael Miller of Health Policy and Communications blog looks at whether health reform legislation will be funded under pay-go rules or if transparency in the legislative process could replace this practice.

Health Populi’s Jane Sarasohn-Kahn looks at a new Center for Studying Health System Change report on health expenses and families’ budgets. Sarasohn-Kahn notes, “In health reform discussions, there’s been less attention concerning affordability of out-of-pocket expenditures for services.”

Marilyn Werber-Serafini of the National Journal‘s Health Care Expert Blog asks, “What is the likely impact of [Sen. Max Baucus’] proposals on Medicare, and on the health care system as a whole? What is the financial impact?” Responders include Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Stuart Butler, Karen Davis, John Goodman, Uwe Reinhardt, John Rother and Donna Shalala.

Paul Testa of the New America Foundation’s New Health Dialogue reports on panelists’ discussion at a recent Alliance for Health Reform and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation event on health reform.

A webcast of the event is available on kaisernetwork.org.

Alicia Mundy of the Wall Street Journal‘s Health Blog reports on stakeholder support of possible candidates for FDA commissioner.