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.

House lawmakers, ACR push bill requiring Medicaid to cover CT lung cancer screenings
U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., recently reintroduced the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act.
Expanding lung cancer screening eligibility criteria could save tens of thousands of lives
“These findings suggest that current screening guidelines miss most patients with lung cancer, and age-based screening could improve detection and cost-effectiveness," experts note.
Rad tech who reconstructed CT images of women for his 'sexual proclivities' banned from working in healthcare
The radiographer claimed he created the images “for educational purposes,” but his colleagues maintain there was no clinical value to his recons.
Report: Trump to announce 2-year extension to ACA subsidies
According to three sources cited by Politico, the White House is planning to announce a new healthcare plan that will include the now-expired Affordable Care Act tax credits.
CMS to cover cardiac ablations performed in ASCs—cardiology group calls it a ‘tremendous victory’
Electrophysiologists can now perform cardiac ablation outside of a hospital setting. Groups such as the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society have been pushing for this change for quite some time, pointing to the potential to cut costs and boost patient satisfaction.

colorectal cancer colon CTC CRC colonoscopy

Medicare proposes paying for CT colonography under hospital outpatient rule, drawing praise from radiology community

UPDATED: The American College of Radiology has pushed for this decision since 2008, when trial results showed CTC or "virtual colonoscopy" to be a solid alternative to the traditional screening approach, which requires anesthesia.

AMA graphic showing Medicare payment inflationary updates for most providers, but not physicians. #AMA #medicarereform

AMA: Community practices unsustainable with low Medicare and Medicaid physician payments

The American Medical Association says payment policies are challenging the viability of smaller physician practices, which will eventually cause healthcare access issues.

ACR to Senate Finance: Failing to address radiologist shortage could drive up US healthcare costs

The college shared its concern in a letter to congressional leaders, who are exploring ways to address a physician shortfall that could reach 140,000 by 2036.

noncompete contract clause employment pen sign

Federal judge issues partial halt to FTC ban on noncompetes

A full court hearing to determine the fate of the FTC ban on noncompete clauses will be scheduled before Aug 31. For now, a judge has issued a preliminary injunction.

Change Healthcare notifies patients their medical records may have been taken in breach

A HIPAA notification posted to the company’s website said details about patients’ diagnoses and treatments may have been stolen by hackers.

Radiologist who drove his family off a cliff cleared to leave jail

The doctor was previously charged with three counts of attempted murder—one for each of the passengers in the vehicle when he sent it plunging off a 250-foot cliff.

Jason Wasfy, MD, associate professor at the Harvard Medical School and director of quality and outcomes research, Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, spoke at the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting in the business of cardiology sessions about the current and future models of value based payments.

Value-based care gives cardiology practices an opportunity to thrive

Value-based payments can impact cardiology practices in many ways, helping cardiologists acquire new technology and boost patient care.

Radiology societies implore Cigna to reverse decision cutting off access to ‘critically important’ service

The American Society of Neuroradiology and Society of Interventional Radiology made their case in a June letter to the Connecticut-based health insurer.

Policy & Regulations

House lawmakers, ACR push bill requiring Medicaid to cover CT lung cancer screenings

Expanding lung cancer screening eligibility criteria could save tens of thousands of lives

Rad tech who reconstructed CT images of women for his 'sexual proclivities' banned from working in healthcare

Report: Trump to announce 2-year extension to ACA subsidies

CMS to cover cardiac ablations performed in ASCs—cardiology group calls it a ‘tremendous victory’