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.

SCAI: Noncompete contracts unfairly bind cardiologists to hospitals unless they move
"These provisions are contained in what amounts, in many cases, to contracts of adhesion, because a physician’s only choice is to accept the terms of the contract without revision or else forgo employment," the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions wrote to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
ACR blasts ‘deeply flawed’ Anthem policy targeting out-of-network radiologists
Last month, the insurance giant announced it will begin charging hospitals a 10% administrative penalty for claims that involve docs outside of its networks.
White House official promises announcement in ‘coming days’ on healthcare, as Trump preps for nationwide tour
The source told Reuters an announcement is coming but provided no specifics. Meanwhile, Republican senators have begun drafting legislation to distribute payments directly to Americans for the purpose of buying insurance—an idea Trump floated in a social media post.
Colorado law barring medical debt from credit reports faces federal challenge from trade lobby
While the law sunsets in 2028, ACA International and the debt collector Creditors Bureau USA are not waiting. They filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that Colorado is illegally restricting free speech, in violation of the First Amendment.
New physician Medicare payments for the Agent drug-coated balloon set for 2027
Boston Scientific said two category III CPT codes are set to become permanent category I codes for physician payments starting Jan. 1, 2027.

FDA authorizes first at-home flu and COVID-19 test

The test specifically can detect and differentiate between influenza A and B and the SARS-Cov-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

New ransomware threat with ties to Russia targets healthcare providers

The "prolific" ransomware group Clop is associated with Russia and has managed to breach some major healthcare systems.

Proposed bills in several states would bolster coverage for breast imaging services

The Susan G. Komen organization has lobbied for the proposals and recently touted them in a series of separate announcements.

ACR, other doc groups call for quick end to latest surprise-billing suit in new court filing

Some physicians believe recent guidance from the federal government will make the mechanism for settling payment disputes with insurers “economically infeasible."

Regional One hit by data breach

Reventics, a revenue cycle management company and a business associate of Regional One Health, detected a cyber-intruder who accessed the company’s servers in December 2022.

CMS not changing ALZ drug restrictions

The announcement comes as more Alzheimer’s drugs are being evaluated with hopes that some new treatments could be breakthroughs.

Mammography guideline changes have produced a ‘harmful’ spillover effect

Mammography screening trends had remained flat, but they fell across all age groups after the USPSTF issued new guidelines in 2009.

Medtronic relaunches Harmony TPV system after 2022 recall

The device, which gained FDA approval in 2021, was part of a voluntary recall in 2022 due to stability concerns. Medtronic worked with the FDA to address the issue, and the Harmony TPV is once again available throughout the United States.

Policy & Regulations

SCAI: Noncompete contracts unfairly bind cardiologists to hospitals unless they move

ACR blasts ‘deeply flawed’ Anthem policy targeting out-of-network radiologists

White House official promises announcement in ‘coming days’ on healthcare, as Trump preps for nationwide tour

Colorado law barring medical debt from credit reports faces federal challenge from trade lobby

New physician Medicare payments for the Agent drug-coated balloon set for 2027