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.

DOJ announces 324 arrests in $14.6B healthcare fraud crackdown
Of those arrested, 96 are doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. All face charges related to telehealth prescriptions, illegal opioid distribution and fraudulent billing practices.
Radiologists say Senate budget changes ‘threaten’ access to medical education
The American College of Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology and over 50 other medical societies expressed their concern to Senate committee leaders in a letter sent June 24.
What can federal health agencies do to revive the fading trust of the public?
Confidence in public health entities is spiraling downward in the U.S., and once-revered Washington institutions like the CDC and NIH are among the casualties in serious condition. How to break the negative momentum?
AAP, other physician societies double down on Kennedy-crossing vaccination stance
5 high-profile physician leaders: ‘Misinformation, politicization of commonsense public health efforts and sudden changes to federal vaccine guidance are creating mass confusion and diminishing trust in public health.’
Supreme Court upholds ACA’s preventive care mandate
Radiologist and cancer care advocacy groups commended the court’s 6-3 ruling in favor of HHS on Friday.

Ed Gaines, JD, CCP, vice president of regulatory affairs and industry liaison, Zotec Partners, discusses the No Surprises Act on radiology at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2022 meeting. Gaines works with RSNA on billing and Medicare issues and spoke in sessions at the RSNA 2022 meeting. Insurance companies have weaponized the No Surprises Act in an effort to cut their costs, he said.

VIDEO: Insurance companies have weaponized the No Surprises Act, may impact patient care

Ed Gaines, JD, CCP, vice president of regulatory affairs and industry liaison, Zotec Partners, discusses the impact of the No Surprises Act on healthcare and medical imaging at the RSNA 2022 meeting

CMS proposes rule on prior authorization

Prior authorization, which requires healthcare providers to get approval from insurance providers before giving certain treatments to patients, has been long-hailed as extremely burdensome to physicians, even causing delays in patient care.

Most devices implanted during LAAO procedures are oversized—and patients benefit

Oversized devices are becoming more common as time goes on, which suggests operators are growing increasingly comfortable with this treatment choice.

How a newly secured 3D printing patent could stabilize radioisotope production

Recently, a patent for 3D printed uranium targets was secured by the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Swierk, Poland, and it could increase the production of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) globally.

Virtual reading room remains popular post-pandemic among certain radiologists, referrers

A large academic medical center launched a virtual radiology reading room in 2020 to comply with COVID-related social distancing guidelines. Today the room is still something of a hit.

FDA changes indications for Impella RP heart pump after dramatic shift in mortality rate

The Impella RP System is still associated with significant benefits, the FDA said, but there are certain high-risk patients who should no longer be eligible for treatment.

Integra LifeSciences to acquire SIA in deal worth up to $140M

Integra LifeSciences Holding Corporation, a global medical technology company, has agreed to acquire Surgical Innovation Associates (SIA), which is known as the manufacturer of monofilament mesh for plastic and reconstructive surgery. The deal is valued up to $140 million.

Medtronic reaches milestone in study of pulsed-field ablation and mapping catheter for AFib

A randomized study of more than 450 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation is now underway. All patients have been treated, and their outcomes will be tracked for 12 months.

Policy & Regulations

DOJ announces 324 arrests in $14.6B healthcare fraud crackdown

Radiologists say Senate budget changes ‘threaten’ access to medical education

What can federal health agencies do to revive the fading trust of the public?

AAP, other physician societies double down on Kennedy-crossing vaccination stance

Supreme Court upholds ACA’s preventive care mandate