Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies.

FDA clears Abbott delivery device for closing holes in the hearts of premature infants
Cardiologists now have a new tool to assist with PDA closure in these vulnerable patients.
American College of Radiology’s longtime head of advocacy to retire
Cynthia R. Moran joined the organization in 2003 after previously spending a decade as director of government relations with the American Academy of Ophthalmology
In brief: Dems and GOPers both wrong about healthcare | Physician trainees literally going hungry | Uplifting points of 2025 light
Democrats want to keep Obamacare going. Republicans want to replace it, ideally with health savings accounts. Regardless of which approach holds sway this week—or whenever—either one would be woefully shortsighted.
House GOP slaps down ACA subsidies as ‘Lower Health Care Premiums Act’ moves to Senate
A Hail Mary attempt by a bipartisan group to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits failed. The new bill contains some reforms, including new reporting requirements for PBMs and support for associated health plans. It now faces the Senate.
Leading nuclear medicine organizations collaborate to streamline PET accreditation
The groups have jointly endorsed a unified framework “to standardize and harmonize quantitative PET imaging worldwide.”

colorectal cancer colon CTC CRC colonoscopy

Medicare instructs contractors to begin covering CT colorectal cancer screening

CMS emphasized that all coinsurance and deductibles should be waived for the exam, noting that MACs have until July 1 to comply with the change.

Rural America lost 3,300 medical practices in five years, report shows

A data analysis from the Physicians Advocacy Institute and Avalere Health found corporate buyouts are leaving patients in low-population areas with fewer options, as doctors are opting to go elsewhere.

Abbott has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its TriClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system designed to treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for T-TEER

CMS has proposed covering tricuspid TEER for patients who present with symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy. The agency still has questions about the available data, however, and is seeking public comments as it makes its final decision.

artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Healthcare AI newswatch: Fail-fast AI skunk works, writerly doctors avoiding AI scribes, more

Is trial and error any way for a sprawling health system to roll out AI? Duke Health’s chief medical information officer believes so.

FTC halts case against PBMs, citing lack of commissioners

The FTC has back-burnered its price collusion case against CVS Caremark, Optum Rx and Express Scripts after significant staff departures at the agency left it uncertain how to proceed.

Dr. Oz confirmed by Senate to lead CMS in a 53-45 vote

The confirmation vote mostly fell on party lines. The Emmy-award-winning TV personality will replace Chiquita W. Brooks-LaSure, who has held the position since 2021.

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation

Researchers tracked patient outcomes through the use of 15 performance measures related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Bill that would require providers report extravasations of radioactive drugs is back on the House floor

Patient advocacy groups say the proposal "is common-sense legislation that will protect patients."

Policy & Regulations

FDA clears Abbott delivery device for closing holes in the hearts of premature infants

American College of Radiology’s longtime head of advocacy to retire

In brief: Dems and GOPers both wrong about healthcare | Physician trainees literally going hungry | Uplifting points of 2025 light

House GOP slaps down ACA subsidies as ‘Lower Health Care Premiums Act’ moves to Senate

Leading nuclear medicine organizations collaborate to streamline PET accreditation