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. 

Texas to repay $30M in care payments that didn’t meet requirements

The state of Texas may have claimed more than $30 million in federal funds for Medicaid uncompensated care payments that didn’t actually meet federal and state requirements.

Independent radiology champion to Congress: ‘We are in serious danger of losing local healthcare focus’

Hospitals are rich and poised to get richer while independent physicians and groups continue to take it on the chin, facing ever more onerous pressures to consolidate under the headship of large hospitals, health systems or for-profit practice management companies.

5 key takeaways from new ACC/AHA aortic disease guidelines

The new guidance, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, covers a variety of topics, including thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, shared decision-making and cardiac imaging.

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ACR out with first take on 2023 final HOPPS rule

The American College of Radiology is offering an initial appraisal of the rates CMS will pay next year for outpatient radiology and radiation oncology services through the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System.

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ACOs win in 2023 Physician Fee Schedule

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) were handed a big win in the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) with several changes to the shared savings program that will likely encourage participation.

 

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Final 2023 physician fee schedule out from CMS; early reactions register exasperation, resolve

CMS has finalized the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2023, and its reimbursement reductions for radiology are less harsh than those proposed preliminarily in July.

Cardiologists, electrophysiologists ‘disappointed’ in final 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society issued a joint statement soon after CMS published its final rule for the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The groups warned that the final rule could threaten patient access to high-quality care. 

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CMS finalizes outpatient payment system

The final rule updated the OPPS payment rate by 3.8% for calendar year 2023, which CMS based on the 4.1% projected hospital market basket percentage increase and adjusted for 0.3 percentage points for productivity.