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.

Healthcare in the midterms: A look ahead to decision day
Will healthcare be the top issue voters take into the polls come November? KFF looks at the odds of the economy falling into second place this year.
Dying former US senator: ‘Will AI bring heaven or hell? Yes.’
Ben Sasse is showing the effects of the terminal pancreatic cancer he was diagnosed with late last year. Yet he’s still in good spirits and his mental energy remains high.
FDA warns that certain sizing catheters should not be used due to risk of breaking
These catheters from Cook Medical are associated with an increased risk of device fragmentation or vessel injury. Customers are urged to return them to the manufacturer.
Medline recalls millions of devices due to safety risk—FDA threatens ‘regulatory action’ in warning letter
Millions of angiographic syringes were recalled due to a risk of parts becoming loose or disconnected. The FDA, unhappy with Medline's response to this situation, sent the company a new warning letter.
Pennsylvania health system sues Aetna over alleged ‘downcoding’ of inpatient hospital care
The policy shift by Aetna to reimburse hospital stays of fewer than five days as outpatient observation encounters went into effect in January. The insurer implemented the policy to reduce friction with hospitals that previously had to seek approval for inpatient reimbursement, which was often denied. Jefferson Health is challenging the changes in court.

Radiology practices get reprieve from Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements

The Trump administration recently announced it will not enforce penalties for failing to adhere to the March 21 deadline tied to the CTA.

Doc fix ditched as President Trump signs resolution to avert government shutdown

"The passage of the CR without a Medicare physician payment fix represents a massive congressional failure," the MGMA said Friday.

Members of Congress introduce bill to reform radiation oncology reimbursement

Over 80 organizations support the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Payment Program Act, including the American College of Radiology and ASTRO.

artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

What federal regulators can learn from the states about AI oversight

If the Trump administration continues taking a laissez-faire stance toward AI—including AI used in healthcare—why not let the states go it alone on regulating the technology?

noncompete contract clause employment pen sign

Arkansas bans noncompetes for all physicians

A new law amends existing regulations that allowed competitors to issue noncompetes within a specific area. The blanket ban goes into effect July 2025.

Ahead of Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Oz asked to abandon ‘conflicts of interest’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren requests Dr. Oz divest from healthcare stocks and make a commitment to avoid lobbying gigs after he leaves his prospective role as administrator of CMS.

Advocates urge Supreme Court to protect ACA mammography coverage requirement

Komen, the “world’s leading breast cancer organization,” recently filed an amicus brief with SCOTUS, which will take up the case in April.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) HQ

HHS employees offered two months of pay to quit their jobs

That’s in addition to the $25,000 buyout offer from the federal government. Employees have until Friday to resign.

Policy & Regulations

Healthcare in the midterms: A look ahead to decision day

Dying former US senator: ‘Will AI bring heaven or hell? Yes.’

FDA warns that certain sizing catheters should not be used due to risk of breaking

Medline recalls millions of devices due to safety risk—FDA threatens ‘regulatory action’ in warning letter

Pennsylvania health system sues Aetna over alleged ‘downcoding’ of inpatient hospital care