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.

Initial House budget proposal includes radiologist Medicare pay hike
For 2026, the update would be 75% of the Medicare Economic Index and 10% every year from 2027 onward.
Respected radiologist under investigation for rampant sexual misconduct
Investigators say the doctor “committed sexual acts with almost all the women who entered his office alone."
FDA approves popular ultrasound enhancing agent for pediatric patients
Unlike other UEA options, GE HealthCare's Optison does not contain polyethylene glycol. The FDA approved its use for adult patients back in 1997.
FDA gives AI-powered blood test for obstructive CAD breakthrough device designation
The FDA clearly sees significant potential in a new multi-protein blood test from Prevencio. The company's goal is to gain full approval and get the test in the hands of emergency departments all over the United States.
Healthcare AI newswatch: FDA’s ‘rush’ to the AI altar, AI and Medicare Advantage, OpenAI benchmarks healthcare AI
For some, the FDA is moving too fast in its drive to adopt generative AI agency-wide.

Tariffs not enough to make Siemens Healthineers move production or raise prices—yet

The imaging manufacturer expects to spend between $227 million and $340 million on tariff mitigation efforts, leaders said Wednesday.

ACR updates guidance for managing and preventing contrast media reactions

The new recommendations address discordance between the college and other organizations’ prior guidelines on the use of premedication.

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Answering key follow-up questions after the FDA approved TAVR in asymptomatic patients

The approval of certain TAVR valves to be used in asymptomatic patients is expected to make a significant impact on patient care going forward.

Michigan sues PBMs, alleging unlawful collusion created ‘pharmacy deserts'

State Attorney General Dana Nessel is suing Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics, accusing the two PBMs of manipulating rebate pricing, "crippling small, independent pharmacies and restricting access to lifesaving medications in the process."

Incidental findings evident in 70% of lung screening exams, but few reported

Despite this, consensus is lacking on whether radiologists should be required to report on findings that are not relevant to the exam.

Tariffs will cost Philips Healthcare up to $340M

U.S.-China tariffs will have a $226M to $340M net impact on its bottom line in 2025, even after substantial mitigation efforts, the imaging manufacturer estimates.

doctor comparing the costs of different medical treatments

Hospital transparency efforts fail to curb rising imaging prices

However, health policy efforts initiated in 2021 appear to be reducing variation in imaging costs, experts contend.

artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Healthcare AI newswatch: UnitedHealth hearts AI, agentic AI again, healthcare AI dependency, more

Give healthcare workers AI to do their jobs and you might make them AI-dependent. Give them AI anyway?

Policy & Regulations

Initial House budget proposal includes radiologist Medicare pay hike

Respected radiologist under investigation for rampant sexual misconduct

FDA approves popular ultrasound enhancing agent for pediatric patients

FDA gives AI-powered blood test for obstructive CAD breakthrough device designation

Healthcare AI newswatch: FDA’s ‘rush’ to the AI altar, AI and Medicare Advantage, OpenAI benchmarks healthcare AI