Laura Joszt

The top issues in health care that will affect physicians and patients in 2013 and five more complaints doctors had about problems affecting their relationship with patients in 2012.

Congress managed to pass legislation on the tax increases that were part of the fiscal cliff and addressed the Medicare physician pay cut. However, it failed to address federal spending cuts, setting up the next battle.

Although the American stock markets did well in 2012 (with double digit returns from the S&P 500), it doesn't compare to the huge returns from the hottest stock markets.

There are a lot of factors contributing to overall health besides exercise and health eating habits - here are Gallup's top 10 discoveries from 2012.

The end of a year isn't just time to make bold predictions for the upcoming year; it's also the time to look back at what has passed. Here are the most read articles of the year, in case you missed them the first time.

A new study revealed that shorter rotations for attending physicians can reduce burnout, which affects physicians more than other adult workers in the U.S.

The end of the year means that it is about time for the medical community to face the yearly cut to Medicare payments. And this year a number of medical organizations went to Capitol Hill so their anger could be heard more clearly.

The planned dividend tax increase from 15% to more than 40% might now take place on Jan. 1, as President Obama seems to be caving on that steep of an increases. Good news for rich Americans and retirees who rely on that income.

The majority of states either aren't ready or do not want to run a health insurance marketplace, with only 18 providing blueprints for their planned exchanges. The federal government will have to set up the remaining 32 exchanges.

This time of the year, as investing firms make predictions about the next year, the lists all look remarkably the same. Thankfully, Deutsche Bank went against the grain and came up with a list of extreme possibilities for 2013.

If a fiscal cliff deal isn't made by the end of 2012, it could take months for a final resolution, making investing tricky for the beginning of the New Year.

Given current numbers and health care industry forecasts, such as the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and possible Medicare spending cuts, the number of medical offices accepting Medicare and Medicaid may decline.

HIT is ever-growing, but it still has a ways to go. With 2013 around the corner, now is the time to consider your HIT resolutions for the New Year.

The unemployment rate remains a concern for investors and the Federal Reserve, which just announced interest rates will stay near zero until unemployment falls to 6.5%. If you're concerned as well, here are the 10 metro areas with the lowest unemployment rates.

Investors are as pessimistic about the economy as they were last year after the debt ceiling debate, and the fiscal cliff is just one of many concerns they have about the state of the U.S. investment climate.

Customer satisfaction with credit cards has been fairly high since the recession, but will that hold true in the new year? Here are five educated guesses about the state of credit in 2013.

The obesity epidemic in the United States may be beginning to reverse its course. Childhood obesity is actually on the decline, according to a report.

Barron's list of top 10 stocks for 2013 includes big names like Apple and JPMorgan. Plus, we look at last year's list to see how those stocks did.

Women are feeling the most confident about their retirement in two years and yet fewer are making financial preparations, according to a new survey.

Perhaps it's the fiscal cliff and the seemingly stalled talks between Democrats and Republicans, but business executives have a poor outlook for the U.S. economy, according to a new survey.

Federal spending for Medicare is under fire as part of the fiscal cliff talks, but a survey revealed that the majority of Americans reject reimbursement reductions to hospitals for Medicare and Medicaid services.

The use of certain drugs for off-label purposes can be a lucrative business for some pharmaceutical companies. And now a federal appeals court ruled that pharmaceutical companies and their sales staff cannot be prosecuted for promoting unapproved uses.

Some people view retirement as the next adventure in their lives. Here are some international retirement spots depending on what you're looking to get out of your Golden Years.

With the patent cliff, growing research costs and increasing trial timelines, there are plenty of risks associated with pharmaceutical drug research and development. Perhaps there's something to learn from previous missteps with drug launches.

Despite constant coverage of the fiscal cliff since the election, surprisingly few people actually know what going over the fiscal cliff would do to the U.S. deficit, according to a survey.

Although the recession ended years ago, only three major cities in the U.S. have fully recovered. Here are the five fastest growing metro areas still in partial recovery, according to a new study.

The state of Obamacare was a big unknown before the 2012 presidential election. But when President Barack Obama was re-elected, the health care reform law was considered safe, right? Not quite, according to a challenge to the Supreme Court's ruling.

Almost half of physicians nationwide report e-prescribing through an electronic health record system, a 41% increase over December 2008. Plus 88% of community pharmacies are enable to accept e-prescriptions.

Ever-evolving technology has provided new opportunities to improve patient care. However, unless they are properly used or monitored, these same technologies can also cause patients harm.

With a month left in the year, investors are getting ready to close up 2012 and begin preparing for what 2013 has to throw their way. Here are five market themes Goldman Sachs is expecting for next year.