Although a great deal of President Barack Obama's sixth State of the Union address focused on highlighting an improved economy and striving for better politics, numerous health-related issues also made an appearance in the annual speech.
The commander in chief discussed the ongoing Ebola efforts, health insurance and cyberattacks, to name a few topics, and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) delivered the Republican Party's response to President Obama's address, vowing to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Listed below are five healthcare-centric topics discussed in the 2015 State of the Union or the GOP's response.
Ebola. Considering there have been more than 21,000 cases of Ebola reported and more than 8,400 Ebola-related deaths — a few of which occurred on American soil — it is no surprise that the president gave a nod to those involved with Ebola relief efforts in his speech.
"In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses and healthcare workers are rolling back Ebola — saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I couldn't be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts," President Obama said in the address. "But the job is not yet done — and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty."
Precision Medicine Initiative. President Obama used the national attention garnered from the State of the Union to unveil his Precision Medicine Initiative. Although no real detail was outlined, the initiative likely includes increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health, an organization that has conducted research that combines genomics and treatments, according to an NBC News report.
President Obama said, "Twenty-first century businesses will rely on American science, technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine — one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. Tonight, I'm launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes — and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier."
Health coverage. The PPACA might be one of the more presidency-defining pieces of legislature to be signed into law but the commander in chief made only fleeting references to the number of Americans who have gained healthcare coverage as a result of the reform.
Comments in his speech included, "In the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage. At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we've seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and healthcare inflation at its lowest rate in fifty years."
Leading up to another landmark Supreme Court case involving the PPACA, President Obama also briefly alluded to the consequence of repealing the law and stripping people of their coverage, saying, "We can't put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance."
Cyberattacks. President Obama called for tough legislation to fight what he called an evolving threat. So far, Congress has tried but failed to pass an overhaul of laws governing cybertheft. "No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids," President Obama said in the address. "We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyberthreats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyberattacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children's information."
The White House plans to host a cyberattack summit with government and business leaders next month at Stanford University, according to the Wall Street Journal. President Obama is also sending a representative to China with the intention to increase pressure on North Korea to stop what the White House believes is a growing use of computer hacking.
GOP response. Sen. Ernst delivered the GOP response to President Obama's address. It was unique in that Sen. Ernst explicitly said she was not so much responding to a speech but talking about "your priorities" and noting that Congress' newly elected Republican majority is "back to work for Americans."
Sen. Ernst's speech incorporated details from her modest childhood in Iowa while laying out the party's priorities. She took a forceful tone on some key issues, such as a vow to repeal and replace the PPACA, "a healthcare law that's hurt so many hardworking families." She referred to harm caused by canceled healthcare plans and higher monthly insurance bills. "Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare. It's a mindset that gave us political talking points, not serious solutions."
Additional topics President Obama touched on included extending paid sick leave, equal pay for women and climate change. Click here for the full transcript of the 2015 State of the Union address.