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.

FTC halts case against PBMs, citing lack of commissioners
The FTC has put its price collusion case against CVS Caremark, Optum Rx and Express Scripts on hold after significant staff departures at the agency left it uncertain how to proceed
Dr. Oz confirmed by Senate to lead CMS in a 53-45 vote
The confirmation vote mostly fell on party lines. The Emmy-award-winning TV personality will replace Chiquita W. Brooks-LaSure, who has held the position since 2021.
Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation
Researchers tracked patient outcomes through the use of 15 performance measures related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Bill that would require providers report extravasations of radioactive drugs is back on the House floor
Patient advocacy groups say the proposal "is common-sense legislation that will protect patients."
Patients eligible for both breast and lung cancer screening are getting mammograms while ditching low-dose CT in droves
This finding underlines the need for interventions to increase LCS awareness and address common barriers such as confusing eligibility criteria.

New analysis reveals enormous variations in prostate MRI pricing

A total of 37,073 MRI examinations conducted at 552 facilities across the U.S. between January 2010 and March 2020 were included in the analysis.

District Court ruling in Texas calls ACA preventive care requirement ‘unconstitutional’

The federally-appointed judge expressed concerns that volunteer experts on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have the power to make binding recommendations.

Imaging fraud lands surgeon in jail

An orthopedic surgeon in California will spend seven years in prison for needlessly X-raying 10 patients hundreds of times over a four-year stretch.

The rise and fall of race-based radiation dosing: 4 lessons

Thanks to public outcry and legislative action in 1968, Black patients have not routinely received higher-dose X-rays than their fair-skinned peers for more than half a century.

FDA warns of a new malfunction risk with Abbott’s MitraClip devices

When these malfunctions occur, the FDA explained, it leads to an increased risk of additional interventions.

Monkeypox update: FDA focuses on testing as cases continue to rise

The new guidance offers a validation template that can assist test developers in submitting an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) request.

RBMA presses CMS to amend 2023 physician fee schedule

Warning that proposed new cuts in Medicare reimbursement could afflict U.S. healthcare with “severe and permanent damage,” the Radiology Business Management Association has presented CMS with detailed recommendations for stopping such a dire scenario from arising.

2 data breaches—geographically distant yet chronologically close—reported in radiology

Radiology practices in Arizona and Texas have been hit by hackers.

Policy & Regulations

FTC halts case against PBMs, citing lack of commissioners

Dr. Oz confirmed by Senate to lead CMS in a 53-45 vote

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation

Bill that would require providers report extravasations of radioactive drugs is back on the House floor

Patients eligible for both breast and lung cancer screening are getting mammograms while ditching low-dose CT in droves