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. 

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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. 

 

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CVS, Walgreens settle opioid lawsuits for $10B

CVS Health will pay $5 billion over the next 10 years, and Walgreens will pay $4.95 billion over the next 15 years.

Providers face ‘ominous reality’ of payment cuts as CMS finalizes 2023 Physician Fee Schedule

Physicians are now bracing for payment cuts after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its final rule for the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule.

The fall and rise of trauma CT on the front and back of COVID-19

When COVID-19 social-distancing orders eased across a densely populated county in the southwest, trauma visits spiked 35% over the pre-pandemic normal. This was accompanied by a 17% increase in average daily trauma CT exams.