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. 

Sutter Health to pay $13M in settlement over improper billing

The healthcare provider allegedly billed for toxicology tests performed by outside labs for government health programs. 

 

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FDA, DOJ go after e-cigarette companies for breaking the law

“Today’s enforcement actions represent a significant step for the FDA in preventing tobacco product manufacturers from violating the law,” one FDA official said. 

 

Claire Ernst, director of government affairs, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), explains the list of priorities for the association. These include staving off the large, planned 2023 Medicare reimbursement cuts, fighting for continuation of reimbursements for telehealth, and revamping prior authorizations.

VIDEO: MGMA explains why the COVID-19 public health emergency extension is critical

Claire Ernst, director of government affairs for the Medical Group Management Association, talked to us about why extending the federal COVID-19 health emergency was so important for healthcare providers.

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Insurers are 'leaving money on the table' for some shoppable imaging services

In some instances, maximum negotiated prices are 3.8 times higher than the minimum negotiated prices at the same hospital for the same procedure. 

Medical center cleared in lawsuit over injurious MRI scan

A California hospital is not liable for negligence or elder abuse, both of which were civilly charged by a man who sustained second-degree burns while undergoing an MRI scan.

Example of the four types of breast tissue density. The density of fibroglandular tissue inside the breast impacts the ability to easily see cancers. Cancers are very easy to spot in fatty breasts, but are almost impossible to find in extremely dense breasts. These examples show craniocaudal mammogram findings characterized as almost entirely fatty (far left), scattered areas of fibroglandular density (second from left), heterogeneously dense (second from right), and extremely dense (far right). RSNA

Breast density notification laws: FDA provides updated timeline on rollout

The proposed regulations would require all healthcare providers to offer patients a summary of their breast density that details their breast cancer risks and covers additional screening options that may be available.

Left, HeartFlow's RoadMap analysis enables cardiac CT readers to identify stenoses in the major coronary arteries. The AI provides visualization and quantification of the location and severity of anatomic narrowings. Right image, HeartFlow's Plaque Analysis AI algorithm automates assessment of coronary plaque characteristics and volume on CCTA exams to greatly reduce the time it takes to manually assess and quantify these features.

HeartFlow gains FDA clearance for 2 new AI-powered imaging assessments

The solutions, Plaque Analysis and RoadMap Analysis, both use coronary CT angiography to provide clinicians with a noninvasive look at patients who present with coronary artery disease and face a heightened myocardial infarction risk.

Walmart to sell OTC hearing aids

Retail giant Walmart is now offering over-the-counter hearing aids for the first time ever to U.S. customers 18 and older.