STATE OF THE HEALTH CARE: What Health Care Topics President Obama Might Broach in Tonight’s State of the Union Address

President Obama tonight continues the long tradition of delivering a State of the Union address. While there are indications that Obama might spend little time discussing the Affordable Care Act, he could address a few health policy-related topics. Below we outline three such issues the president could tackle during his primetime address.

AHL’s TOP STORY: MEDPAC Renews Push for SGR Repeal; Recommends Against Payment Increases for Hospice, Long Term Care

Ten days after Congress voted to approve a temporary “doc fix,” the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission last week released a blueprint that calls for permanently repealing and replacing the sustainable growth rate formula — which is used to determine Medicare physician reimbursement rates, Modern Physician reports (Daly, Modern Physician, 1/11).

2013: What Will Be The Biggest Health Policy Stories This Year?

In the health policy world, 2012 was a big year. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, and President Obama’s re-election further solidified the law’s future. Medicare played a significant role in the presidential campaign, and budget sequestration added a new threat to providers’ Medicare payments. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act was reauthorized, and an outbreak of meningitis caused by tainted drugs from a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts raised new questions about FDA oversight.

What health policy issues will make the biggest mark on 2013? To answer that, we asked American Health Line subscribers to weigh in. We received an overwhelming response, with answers from representatives of academia, advocacy organizations, legal groups, the media and think tanks. As Ilisa Halpern Paul, managing government relations director at DrinkerBiddle & Reath, said, “It looks to be another interesting and dynamic year in health policy.”