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.

ASNC lobbies Congress to curb prior authorization, oppose AUC mandates and embrace payment reform
Suman Tandon, MD, an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology board member, explains the group's call on Congress to update a number of healthcare policies.
CMS proposal includes cardiologist pay bump—cuts to high-value services still a concern
The 2026 MPFS proposed rule includes higher conversion factors across the board. However, some cardiology groups remain concerned about a series of reimbursement reductions for high-value cardiology services.
Healthcare AI today: Trump’s calculated risks, healthcare’s sluggish revolution, simple AI math, more
In his drive to keep China from sprinting ahead of the U.S. in the AI arms race, President Trump may be willing to cut some risky corners.
2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposes 3.6% pay bump, permanent remote imaging supervision
Physicians expressed concern Monday about newly proposed "efficiency adjustments" in the federal payment program, which could drag down reimbursement for many services.
Judge overturns Biden-era rule that curbed medical debt reporting after CFPB backs off
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau joined trade lobby groups in asking a federal court to vacate the rule, which would have forbidden creditors from considering medical debt in lending decisions.

Skyrocketing rates of head CT in the ED: Don’t look at advanced practice providers

The meteoric rise of noncontrast head CT in emergency settings is not explained by the conspicuous proliferation of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the ED.

Neighbor to the North facing a ‘very bleak future’ if medical imaging not modernized soon

Canada has fallen behind other industrialized nations in multiple measures of capital healthcare investment, and the most glaring gap is found in the state of its medical imaging equipment.

Why criminalizing medical errors is not the answer

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation released a new policy statement detailing why the criminalization of medical errors is unjust and counterproductive.

PET/CT contrast debate: ‘Time to unleash the full power’ vs. ‘More is not always better’

Hybrid PET/CT enhanced with intravenous CT contrast deserves wider acceptance and adoption, as diagnostically optimized CT can complement PET—and vice versa—for a variety of potential indications. That’s one opinion on the matter.

As war in Ukraine continues, it's business as usual for many U.S. healthcare companies in Russia

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in late February, the Yale School of Management has been tracking more than 1,200 companies that do business in Russia.

Iodine contrast being loaded into a contrast injector in preparation for a cardiac CT scan at Duly Health and Care in Lisle, Illinois. The contrast shortage is causing some healthcare organizations to postpone exams and procedures and ration contrast supplies. Photo by Dave Fornell

ACR working with FDA and HHS to help address imaging contrast shortage

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced this week its government relations staff has been engaging federal agencies in an effort to improve product availability and hasten resolution of the ongoing iodine contrast shortage.

Pulmonary embolism AI cleared

A Silicon Valley AI shop has been OK’d by the FDA to market software that automatically flags suspected pulmonary embolisms (PEs) and immediately notifies physicians.

Mammography AI intercepts density overestimations

Researchers have demonstrated a deep learning model that can correct course for breast radiologists who otherwise may have erroneously deemed tissue dense in screening exams.

Policy & Regulations

ASNC lobbies Congress to curb prior authorization, oppose AUC mandates and embrace payment reform

CMS proposal includes cardiologist pay bump—cuts to high-value services still a concern

Healthcare AI today: Trump’s calculated risks, healthcare’s sluggish revolution, simple AI math, more

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposes 3.6% pay bump, permanent remote imaging supervision

Judge overturns Biden-era rule that curbed medical debt reporting after CFPB backs off