A selection of other bloggers' posts on whether health care reform is more or less likely given the economic fallout.

• Hard Times Ahead: How to Move Toward Healthcare Reform [Health Beat blog]: "... [T]here are steps we can take to pave the way for health care reform that will not cost tens of millions—and in some cases, can save billions. There is no reason not to authorize Medicare to use its clout to negotiate for lower prices for drugs and devices, for instance. As I have said before, we should repeal the bonus that we now pay Medicare Advantage insurers. And we should begin demanding unbiased evidence that new treatments are indeed more effective before we agree to pay for them."
• Let's get real about the economy and health care [The Health Care Blog]: "Health care reform isn't going to take off in the midst of this huge financial storm either and McCain, Obama, all those offices on the Hill saying it will aren't going to make it so. The sooner we get real--on health care and everything else--the sooner we can start talking about what is really possible."
• Reforming health care without busting the budget [Managed Care Matters blog]: Author Joe Paduda offers his plan for reforming the health care system "without busting the budget" -- "Congress could pass and the President could sign legislation prohibiting medical underwriting in the individual market, requiring insurers to cover pre-existing conditions, mandating community rating, and establishing a basic benefits plan."
• Reforming health care in the current economic crisis [Kevin, M.D. blog]: Author Kevin, M.D., says that "critical to any meaningful reform" is the acceptance by the public of health plans that offer decent coverage with some limitations, rather than "gold-plated" plans that cover everything.
• Why the sick economy makes health reform more plausible [Wall Street Journal Health blog]: Examines a Chicago Tribune op-ed on why the economic downturn might more health care reform more likely.

 

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