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.

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.”

TOP 12 IN ’12: The 12 Most-Visited Posts on AHLAlerts.com

From the Affordable Care Act surviving a Supreme Court challenge and a presidential election to yet another “doc fix,” 2012 was filled with health care news. AHLAlerts was there every step of the way, providing reliable coverage and pointed analysis. But what were readers’ favorite stories? Find out after the jump.

SEQUESTER: Reductions to Medicare Providers, Biomedical Researchers Could Take Effect Jan. 1

If Congress fails to bridge the partisan divide by midnight and reach an agreement to avert the mandated spending cuts under sequestration, health care providers will face a series of cuts, U-T San Diego reports.