US Pres calls for tax code changes

US President George W Bush's last State of the Union address focused little on pharmaceutical and health care, but he did say that basic private health insurance should be more affordable for people not insured by their employers and called on Congress to eliminate provisions in the tax code detrimental to this population group.

He proposed a standard deduction for every US citizen who buys health insurance, whether this is through their employers or by themselves, which should make health coverage affordable and give patients more choice. The President also supported allowing health insurance to be bought across state lines instead of this being limited to the state of residence.

In response to the President's address, Bill Novelli, chief executive of the AARP (a non-profit group which represents older Americans), said: "we hope that the President's words...help move us beyond rhetoric and towards bipartisan solutions that are fair for all generations. Congress and the Administration must come together, openly debate all available options, and solve our health care and economic crises."