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.

HHS sued over RFK’s $11B cuts to infectious disease control
The Department of Health and Human Services is refusing to allocate funds meant to support state and local healthcare initiatives, as the money stemmed from now-defunct COVID-19 control efforts. A coalition of municipalities is suing to lift the block.
FDA announces new recall of Abbott heart pump accessories over significant safety risks
The mobile power units of certain HeartMate 3 and HeartMate II LVADs have been experiencing “sudden, unexpected performance issues” such as turning on, off or even restarting with no warning. These issues can potentially be fatal, according to an alert shared by the FDA.
‘Innovative’ pay model eliminates cost uncertainty for breast and lung cancer screening patients
Experts have proposed “episode-based cost sharing” to address financial toxicity for healthcare consumers, according to new research published in JACR.
Rad tech advocates recognized for their work fighting scope creep in 2 states
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists this week gave its 2025 Awards for Advocacy to both Diane Kosenko, with Radiology Associates of Hartford, Conn., and its Minnesota affiliate.
Congressmen propose bill to address patient safety loophole in medical imaging
Reps. Don Davis, Morgan Griffith and Ben Cline recently introduced the Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act of 2025.

New consensus guidelines for fluoroscopic swallow studies released

The 40 evidence-based recommendations touch on everything from patient selection to study choice, radiation safety, clinical team dynamics, procedural techniques, study interpretations and more.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) past president Jonathan Lindner, MD, FASE, is a newly named advisor to the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC), which advises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on whether services and supplies are reasonable and necessary under Medicare.

Cardiologist Jonathan Lindner to advise influential Medicare committee

As a MEDCAC advisor, American Society of Echocardiography past president Jonathan Lindner, MD, will help decide whether services and supplies are reasonable and necessary under Medicare.

CMS shoots down request to reconsider CTC cancer screening coverage

In the June 29 announcement, the ACR revealed CMS said the additional evidence provided to them was “insufficient” to support the reconsideration of their non-coverage decision.

Low back imaging: All-in-one MR makes strong showing vs. added CT

Two emerging MRI techniques show promise as all-in-one imaging tests for patients with pain in and below the lower back due to changes in the sacroiliac joint.

Radiology operation loses standing to provide mammography services

The FDA is warning patients and referrers about an imaging business near the nation’s capital that has fumbled away its mammography accreditation.

The most successful case to date of a pig organ being transplanted into a human occurred back in January, when specialists at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore transplanted a modified pig heart into 57-year-old David Bennett. The FDA approved the heart transplant transplant through an emergency authorization typically reserved for experimental procedures seen as a patient’s last chance at survival. Bennett did die of heart failure two months later, but UMMC specialists had been “

FDA may allow clinical trials of pig organ transplants into human patients

The FDA would approve trials on a case-by-case basis, according to an anonymous source close to the situation.

How the Supreme Court's environmental ruling impacts healthcare

The Supreme Court has issued another landmark ruling, rolling back authorization of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gas––and the healthcare industry isn’t happy about it.

Judge says Apple violated ECG patents, making U.S. import ban of Apple Watches a possibility

A judge from the U.S. International Trade Commission has said Apple violated multiple AliveCor patents. This story, however, is far from over.

Policy & Regulations

HHS sued over RFK’s $11B cuts to infectious disease control

FDA announces new recall of Abbott heart pump accessories over significant safety risks

‘Innovative’ pay model eliminates cost uncertainty for breast and lung cancer screening patients

Rad tech advocates recognized for their work fighting scope creep in 2 states

Congressmen propose bill to address patient safety loophole in medical imaging