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.

Lehigh Valley Health admits to controlled substances violations in $2.75M settlement
The Pennsylvania-based health system reported drug diversion incidents to authorities involving a pharmacy technician who used employee passwords to steal pills from one of its hospitals.
Sanitation issue forces FDA recall of ventilator suction systems
Ballard Closed Suction Systems will need to be returned to the manufacturer for a refund due to the high risk of a potentially fatal infection stemming from their use.
Medicare now covers TriClip procedures for patients with symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation
CMS has finalized a new national coverage determination for T-TEER, sometimes known as transcatheter tricuspid valve repair. Abbott's TriClip is the only device approved by the FDA for T-TEER, but other treatment options are under development.
Healthcare AI today: HL7 Int’l opens AI office, Justice Dept. uses AI, epidemiologist harbors AI skepticism, more
HL7 International is open for AI business. The interoperability organization announced the launch of its new AI office July 8.
Shared decision-making visits significantly boost CT lung cancer screening adherence
SDM "is more than just a billing requirement—it’s a valuable opportunity to engage patients," says radiologist Farouk Dako, MD, MPH.

CMS overhauls physician self-referral regs, while doc groups say Stark Law still ‘beyond comprehension’

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued what it called a "historic" update in a bid to "unleash innovation" in medicine.

Stanford addresses controversial radiologist Scott Atlas’ ‘rise up’ comments, while others demand his firing

The Hoover Institution fellow and White House COVID-19 advisor drew fire earlier this week for urging Michigan residents to stand up against further lockdowns.

ACR experts advising President’s Cancer Panel on boosting breast imaging numbers post-COVID-19

Reduced access to mammography and other services may "exacerbate already significant disparities," Chief Research Officer Etta Pisano, MD, said.

‘Lockdowns kill people’: Radiologist and White House COVID advisor Scott Atlas blasts colleagues

The neuroradiologist and fellow of Stanford’s Hoover Institution labeled fellow coronavirus counselor Anthony Fauci a "political animal" in a recent interview.

4 forces favoring, 5 working against Biden’s wish to lower Medicare eligibility age

President-elect Joe Biden wants to drop Medicare’s eligibility age to 60. If he succeeds, the move might bring in well more than 20 million new enrollees. What are the odds he’ll plant that piece of a potentially sweeping healthcare agenda?

3 areas newly ripe for employer-driven change in healthcare policy

A healthcare research firm specializing in purchasing has considered the post-election landscape from the vantage point of large employers offering health benefits to their workers.

ACR wants transparency as feds work to speed up Medicare coverage for ‘breakthrough’ devices

CMS is proposing to close the so-called “valley of death” between FDA approval of imaging products and Medicare payment authorization.

Health execs best consider now what a ‘Bidencare’ might look like later

As Joe Biden makes plans to intensify the federal response to the COVID crisis, he can expect support on that agenda item from 77% of Democrats, 62% of independents, 55% of Republicans and 50% of others.

Policy & Regulations

Lehigh Valley Health admits to controlled substances violations in $2.75M settlement

Sanitation issue forces FDA recall of ventilator suction systems

Medicare now covers TriClip procedures for patients with symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation

Healthcare AI today: HL7 Int’l opens AI office, Justice Dept. uses AI, epidemiologist harbors AI skepticism, more

Shared decision-making visits significantly boost CT lung cancer screening adherence