Still wondering about Scott Brown and health reform

His opposition to the Senate plan was a big factor, possibly a turning point, in his win. Sunday’s NY Times Magazine profile of Sen.Scott Brown gives pretty much zero insight into what our new senator plans to do about health reform.  The story does suggest he didn’t explain his plans very clearly in the campaign. ….If …

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Coakley, Capuano and keeping up with health reform

As health reform churns its way through Congress, BHN recommends Kaiser Health News and the Washington Post web site as good places to get updates.  Also, the latest edition of  Health Wonk Review offers lots of news, blog postings and a bit of humor about health reform that you won't find in the usual places, including those …

Kennedy aide to serve in Senate until Jan. election.

Long-time Kennedy aide Paul Kirk will replaces his late boss until the special election in January For impact on health bill, see Globe politics blog. The Duke weighs in. For more on Kirk, also from the Globe (Massachusetts Governor Deval) Patrick has remained mum about his selection, but Kirk entered the governor's office through a side door at …

NY Times Book Review:The Heart of Power

You read about it here first. Maybe. From BHN 7/15. The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office  starts with FDR and looks at how each recent president approached health reform. Lyndon Johnson was “the most effective health care president in American history,” according to the authors, Brown historian James A. Morone and Obama …

Blumenthal on Kennedy and Changes at Commonhealth

Commonhealth, WBUR's group blog on health care, has a new editor -- former WSJ reporter Rachel Zimmerman.    I’ll be expanding the list of guest contributors, so if you have strong opinions about cost, delivery, access or quality of care in this state, please contact me at zimmerman08@gmail.com. (And if your opinions include photos, charts, …

BHN Exclusive: Kennedy — Saying Goodbye and Talking Health Reform

People gathered in Boston's North End on Thursday to see Ted Kennedy's body pass through on the way out to the Kennedy Library. BHN talked to some of them about Kennedy and health reform. Here's a rough cut.   Thanks to -- in order of appearance --Mary Gilbert, Johanna Collins, Jeanne Pagano, Mitch Zimmer, Amir El Shami and Jason Williams.   

Kennedy’s legacy and health reform

I'm still on deadline but my 11-year-old son and I rode our bikes across the bridge to see the procession go through the North End  today. (BHN is actually based in Cambridge.)  I was about my son's age when Robert Kennedy was shot.   For more, see the Globe special Kennedy section. I covered Kennedy's Senate committee in the late …

Teddy Kennedy, 1932-2009

Woke up to a huge headline in my morning paper annoucing Kennedy's death. Feels like the end of an era. Is there any other health news in Boston today? Here are some links: The future of health reform without Kennedy. NY Times Globe coverage. From the editorial : "The state already feels smaller without him." Reaction from Boston hosptials …