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.

Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time
The days when most doctors worked in independent practice settings are fading from memory like old photoprints in a dog-eared scrapbook.
Key points to remember when performing cardiac ablations in ASCs
When CMS finalized coverage for cardiac ablations performed in ASCs, experts from HRS and ACC published recommendations for performing those procedures safely and effectively. One of the cardiologists behind that guidance shared some important takeaways with Cardiovascular Business.
Siemens Healthineers scores FDA clearance for 6 interventional systems
Each device comes equipped with a new AI feature designed to deliver high quality imaging at lower radiation doses during IR procedures.
Half of emergency CT requests for children may not adhere to imaging appropriateness criteria
The overuse of CT scans on kids could be owed, at least in part, to the fear of missing a critical finding, new research suggests.
Makary out at FDA; food head Diamantas said to be stepping in
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary is about to become a former FDA chief. The departure comes as no surprise since President Donald Trump OK’d a plan to fire him last week.

Radiology societies, all 50 state medical associations push Medicare pay fix

A total of 80 healthcare organizations signed the message, sent to leaders in the U.S. House and Senate on Feb. 10.

Gottlieb: Let’s not slap the label ‘medical device’ on AI software that only helps clinicians make care decisions

Standing FDA guidance reflects concern over physicians deferring to AI-aided CDS recommendations when pressed for time or uncertain of their own judgments. Is that stance outdated?

Benzodiazepine use before heart surgery: Should it be embraced or restricted?

Benzodiazepines are administered before a majority of cardiac surgeries to lower the risk of intraoperative awareness. At the same time, however, recent studies have suggested they increase the risk of postoperative delirium.

A graphic released by the AMA showing that cumulative Medicare payment cuts to physicians between 2001-2025 has resulted in a 33% cuts, which medical societies and numerous physicians in Congress says is not sustainable without Medicare patients losing access to care.

Congressional bill could reverse Medicare cuts and increase physician pay

A bill in Congress would reverse the 2025 Medicare cuts and increase physician pay, but a March deadline looms to make this happen.

ACR wants radiology prioritized in Senate bill to boost number of residency slots

Members of Congress introduced the bipartisan legislation in December, hoping to help hospitals train more physicians amid workforce shortages

Pennsylvania, South Carolina propose requiring insurers to cover breast MRI, ultrasound

Gaps in coverage result in individuals paying anywhere from $234 for a follow-up diagnostic mammogram to over $1,000 for a breast MRI, Komen estimates.

Report: Incoming Trump executive order to eliminate ‘thousands’ of jobs at HHS

According to coverage in the Wall Street Journal, leadership at HHS has been told to rank probationary workers as the Trump Administration prepares to announce cuts. The White House denies the claim.

FDA announces recall of dangerous arterial catheters

While there have been no reported injuries, a manufacturing error involving debris contamination could potentially kill a patient.

Policy & Regulations

Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time

Key points to remember when performing cardiac ablations in ASCs

Siemens Healthineers scores FDA clearance for 6 interventional systems

Half of emergency CT requests for children may not adhere to imaging appropriateness criteria

Makary out at FDA; food head Diamantas said to be stepping in