President Bush will push the adoption of electronic medical records in his upcoming State of the Union Address, administration officials indicated.

He also plans to propose a cap on non-economic damages in malpractice verdicts and allow small businesses to pool the purchasing of healthcare coverage across state lines.

Healthcare issues will dominate the speech, according to reports. Curbing rising healthcare costs will be a main focus of the Jan. 31 speech. Other healthcare issues include: raising the amount allowed to accumulate in existing health savings accounts, giving additional tax breaks for those who purchase private insurance on their own; and providing easier access to information regarding pricing and quality.