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.

FDA clears Abbott delivery device for closing holes in the hearts of premature infants
Cardiologists now have a new tool to assist with PDA closure in these vulnerable patients.
American College of Radiology’s longtime head of advocacy to retire
Cynthia R. Moran joined the organization in 2003 after previously spending a decade as director of government relations with the American Academy of Ophthalmology
In brief: Dems and GOPers both wrong about healthcare | Physician trainees literally going hungry | Uplifting points of 2025 light
Democrats want to keep Obamacare going. Republicans want to replace it, ideally with health savings accounts. Regardless of which approach holds sway this week—or whenever—either one would be woefully shortsighted.
House GOP slaps down ACA subsidies as ‘Lower Health Care Premiums Act’ moves to Senate
A Hail Mary attempt by a bipartisan group to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits failed. The new bill contains some reforms, including new reporting requirements for PBMs and support for associated health plans. It now faces the Senate.
Leading nuclear medicine organizations collaborate to streamline PET accreditation
The groups have jointly endorsed a unified framework “to standardize and harmonize quantitative PET imaging worldwide.”

Researchers question FFR-CT’s value compared to other cardiac imaging options

FFR-CT has grown in popularity due its ability to provide noninvasive evaluations of patients being considered for revascularization procedures. According to a new study in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, however, stress imaging strategies may still provide more value in certain scenarios.

FDA expands dapagliflozin approval to cover all heart failure patients

The FDA has previously approved the SGLT2 inhibitor in patients with HFrEF, but not HFmrEF or HFpEF

USPSTF recommends women begin breast cancer screening at 40, boosting stocks at mammo-related firms

The draft update marks a shift from the task force's previous guidelines, which had endorsed screening beginning at age 50.

Exploring diversity, compensation among academic cardiothoracic surgeons

New research presented at the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery examined the lack of diversity seen in this important specialty.

Radiology societies urge commercial insurers to align with Medicare on payment policy for key procedure

Imaging groups and pain-management associations urged Humana, Aetna and others to lift restrictions around procedures to treat compression fractures.

'Burdensome' Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements cause delays or denials at 97% of practices

A new Medical Group Management Association report details how the problematic policies are negatively impacting patient care.

CDC director announces her resignation from the agency

News of the CDC director’s departure comes on the same day as an announcement made by the World Health Organization declaring the end of the COVID global health emergency.

RadNet, cancer care advocates praise passage of bills to boost imaging coverage

The policy changes forbid insurers from saddling patients with out-of-pocket costs for services associated with lung and breast cancer.

Policy & Regulations

FDA clears Abbott delivery device for closing holes in the hearts of premature infants

American College of Radiology’s longtime head of advocacy to retire

In brief: Dems and GOPers both wrong about healthcare | Physician trainees literally going hungry | Uplifting points of 2025 light

House GOP slaps down ACA subsidies as ‘Lower Health Care Premiums Act’ moves to Senate

Leading nuclear medicine organizations collaborate to streamline PET accreditation