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 AI today: AI bubble may burst, AI hype and hope, agentic AI coming on strong
What do you get when you fall in love with AI in healthcare? A guy with a pin to burst your bubble.
New drug recall includes more than 140K bottles of popular statin
According to the FDA, the drugs are not dissolving correctly. This can impact their ability to lower a patient’s cholesterol as intended.
Court dismisses nurse practitioners’ lawsuit challenging definition of ‘doctor’
The court's ruling is backed by the American Medical Association, which submitted an amicus brief arguing that "scope creep" threatens patient safety.
Provider participation in Medicare rose 6.3% over 10 years, peaking in 2019
A new study published in JAMA, which looked at fee-for-service Medicare records from 2013–2023, found that overall participation has trended upward. However, the details paint a complicated picture.
Report: ACA premiums to jump 30%, CMS documents show
The Washington Post reported that it reviewed documents from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, confirming that the cost of medical coverage is set to spike for 17 million Americans. Open enrollment for coverage through Affordable Care Act exchanges begins on Nov. 1.

Insurers eventually approve most denials, though payer-mandated changes may be compromising care

Across over 200 radiation therapy denials at a single institution, 98% eventually led to the delivery of RT with delays sometimes as long as 49 days.

Biden administration proposes banning medical bills from credit reports

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also wants to stop credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, among other changes.

CVS Health announces $10.6B acquisition of Oak Street Health

CVS generic drugs twice as likely to be recalled over safety concerns, investigation finds

CVS generics have been linked to more than 15 manufacturers cited for producing allegedly contaminated drugs.

Coalition seeks to simplify prior authorizations and improve Medicare Advantage coverage

More than 380 organizations have expressed support for the bipartisan Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which unanimously passed a House vote in 2022.

Congress reintroduces radiologist-supported bill aimed at curbing prior authorization

Over 370 organizations support the legislation including the American College of Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology and the Association of Academic Radiology.

Cardiologist-supported prior authorization reform reintroduced in Congress

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act has been considered by Congress multiple times, getting closer than ever in 2023. Will 2024 be the year it finally lands on the president's desk?

AMA wants insurers to be accountable when prior authorization harms patients

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates this week approved two policies aimed at increasing insurer accountability and transparency amid an explosion of prior authorization requirements.

Hundreds hit Capitol Hill to press Congress for breast imaging payment reform

Those involved want lawmakers to pass three already-proposed bills aimed at improving access to breast MRI, ultrasound and other services.

Policy & Regulations

Healthcare AI today: AI bubble may burst, AI hype and hope, agentic AI coming on strong

New drug recall includes more than 140K bottles of popular statin

Court dismisses nurse practitioners’ lawsuit challenging definition of ‘doctor’

Provider participation in Medicare rose 6.3% over 10 years, peaking in 2019

Report: ACA premiums to jump 30%, CMS documents show