Health policy debate moves into focus

Additional information continues to emerge about the health policy changes President Bush is expected to propose in his State of the Union address next week. It is becoming increasingly obvious that healthcare providers will want to pay close attention to the speech. The Los Angeles Times reports that in addition to expanding tax free HSAs, the proposals are likely to include an "expanded system of 'report cards' on doctors and hospitals, stricter enforcement of anti-monopoly laws against health providers and insurers, and a limit on malpractice suits." The last time the Bush administration made a major health policy choice, it came up with a little piece of legislation called the Medicare Modernization Act. Best to sit up straight and pay attention, folks.

- see this article from the Los Angeles Times

ALSO: The surest sign that the healthcare debate is about to explode? Twelve years after the failures of the Clinton health plan, Hillary Clinton is talking healthcare again. And talking about it in front of the cameras. Article

PLUS: In a column in today's Wall Street Journal, Dr. Benjamin Brewer writes that HSAs could offer a solution to the country's health care woes--but only after some serious tweaking. Article (sub. req.)