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.

Over 1,000 hospitals earn $700M opioid crisis judgement
Drug distributors AmerisourceBergen (Cencora), Cardinal Health, McKesson, Johnson & Johnson, Teva and Allergan do not admit to wrongdoing. However, they have agreed to a settlement which will compensate providers for opioid abuse treatments.
Radiology pushes for doc fix as government funding deadline looms
Momentum is building for the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, the AMA notes, with 99 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House.
Imaging industry urges Congress to oppose cuts to critical research overhead payments
Failing to fund these functions, advocates contend, will result in challenges that could potentially halt progress in imaging industry innovation.
University of Missouri Health Care's 7T scanner joins exclusive ACR accreditation club
There are fewer than 40 of these 7T MRI scanners in North America, and MU Health Care’s is one of less than 10 to achieve ACR accreditation.
VA planning 83,000 layoffs as part of restructuring
The reports are based on a leaked internal memo in which the agency said it’s working closely with Elon Musk’s DOGE to cut jobs.

CMS’ move to abolish ‘valley of death’ between FDA approval, Medicare imaging coverage draws praise

The proposed "Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology" pathway would bolster both innovation and patient outcomes, industry lobbyists said.

Radiologist, mask skeptic and COVID contrarian raising eyebrows at White House: ‘It’s a catastrophe’

Scott Atlas, MD, recently joined the Trump administration and has reportedly embraced a "herd immunity" approach to the pandemic, a claim the White House vehemently denied.

Feds cancel controversial ventilator contract in which US allegedly overpaid Philips by $500M

CEO Frans van Houten said the Amsterdam-based imaging giant is "disappointed" in the decision but plans to work with HHS to "effectuate the partial termination" of the deal.

Medicare Advantage plans failing to collect info on imaging referrers, opening door for fraud

CMS must take action to address this issue, including rejecting records that do not identify referrers, the OIG urged.

Patient who suffered ‘life-changing’ gadolinium reaction awaits jury’s medical malpractice decision

The Pennsylvania man's attorneys argued that the hospital and radiologist involved did not follow policies and procedures that would have mitigated his injuries.

Protective barriers thought to be safe may place providers in greater danger, FDA warns

It was back in May that the FDA first gave its emergency OK for the use of these transparent devices, designed to cover a patient’s head and upper body to prevent the spread of germs during procedures.

Insurer wants radiology practice’s class-action suit tossed: ‘COVID-19 damages lungs, not property’

It was back in April that Alliance Radiology first sued Continental Casualty Co., claiming it had lost business as leaders looked to comply with state orders.

Researchers clarify: Don’t dismiss the neck gaiter as a facemask failure

Remember the Duke study that seemed to suggest a neck gaiter can spread more COVID than no mask at all? Its authors now say their findings were misconstrued. Gaiters may be OK after all.

Policy & Regulations

Over 1,000 hospitals earn $700M opioid crisis judgement

Radiology pushes for doc fix as government funding deadline looms

Imaging industry urges Congress to oppose cuts to critical research overhead payments

University of Missouri Health Care's 7T scanner joins exclusive ACR accreditation club

VA planning 83,000 layoffs as part of restructuring