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.

Medicare has denied $16M worth of radiology artificial intelligence claims
The federal payment program first started paying for AI in 2018 and has denied about 53% of claims (or 53,857) submitted by radiologists since then, experts detail in JACR.
Members of Congress propose tapping foreign-born physicians to relieve radiology workforce shortages
Lawmakers in both chambers have reintroduced the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, touting support from the American Hospital Association and several physician societies.
Medicare opts not to make CT radiation-related quality measure mandatory in 2027
The measure evaluates the proportion of scans that exceed certain thresholds for image noise or radiation dose across 18 categories.
Alphabet-owned Verily accused by whistleblower of misusing data from 25K patients
A former executive at Verily is suing the company, alleging he was fired after reporting the incidents to management. The misuses of data, if true, would constitute HIPAA violations.
Nonprofit health system agrees to $18M settlement over use of ad trackers
Adena Health System was accused in a class-action lawsuit of deploying Meta Pixel tracking tools on its patient portal. As many as 89,000 patients could have had protected health information shared with advertisers.

Bipartisan senators urge CMS to bolster access to nuclear imaging in outpatient settings

Lawmakers led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., made their plea in a June letter to the head of the agency.

AMA: Examining a doctors’ health data can help detect burnout

More than 50% of physicians reported feeling burned out, leading to large numbers retiring or changing jobs The AMA now wants to look at healthcare worker medical records to help identify workplace stressors and how to improve well-being.

Former smokers who vape now still need to be screened for lung cancer. Many of them aren't

Despite kicking their initial habit, these individuals remain at risk of developing lung cancer due to their history of smoking cigarettes, current use of e-cigarettes, or both, experts caution.

Tracking private equity: Cardiologist, CEO share perspective on acquisition trends

The ongoing rise of private equity continues to be one of the biggest topics in modern healthcare.

Volume of interventional radiology procedures performed by nurse practitioners surges 143%

Physician assistants also handled a growing share of treatments, with their tally increasing nearly 67% between 2010 and 2021.

Inmates in five states, including minors, to be granted Medicaid coverage

Inmates in Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Vermont will be granted access to patient care services, including behavioral health and drug abuse interventions.

Radiologists, thoracic surgeons urge CMS to make millions more eligible for lung cancer screening

Enacting the requested modifications would make about 5 million more Americans eligible for LCS while saving about 21% more lives.

Philips recalling MRI coils amid concern they could overheat and burn patients

The safety notice applies to the Sense XL 1.5T and 3T coils, which are 16-element, receive-only products used in imaging of the torso and abdomen.

Policy & Regulations

Medicare has denied $16M worth of radiology artificial intelligence claims

Members of Congress propose tapping foreign-born physicians to relieve radiology workforce shortages

Medicare opts not to make CT radiation-related quality measure mandatory in 2027

Alphabet-owned Verily accused by whistleblower of misusing data from 25K patients

Nonprofit health system agrees to $18M settlement over use of ad trackers