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. 

Medicare money payment

Medicare contractors mull restricting coverage for key image-guided pain procedure

Five of the seven MACs recently released proposed local coverage determinations, pertaining to peripheral nerve blocks. 

Harrison.ai cofounders Tran

Imaging artificial intelligence firm Harrison.ai scores FDA breakthrough device designations

The agency has granted this designation to the Australia-based company's Comprehensive Care triage and prioritization solution for obstructive hydrocephalus. 

TrumpRx.gov Screenshot

TrumpRx now online as AstraZeneca becomes second pharmaceutical company to join

Details are still unclear. However, the administration—along with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, the two companies to sign on—promises the storefront will offer deeply discounted drugs directly to Americans. The deal allows the manufacturers to avoid import tariffs. 

the words "FDA recall" on a board

FDA details Class I recalls for more than 1 million pacemakers—software update required

The FDA has finalized new Class I recalls related to ongoing safety concerns with Boston Scientific’s Accolade family of pacemakers. A software update is now available to help address the issue, and an additional update is already in the works.

Congress Senate Washington D.C. DC

House Republicans propose reviving shelved imaging appropriate-use criteria program

Reps. Diana Harshbarger and Blake Moore recently introduced the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act after bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate did the same in May. 

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Certificate-of-need law forcing referrers to send patients across state border for radiology services

Massachusetts primary care providers are reportedly sending patients to imaging centers in New Hampshire, which lacks a CON law and offers more affordable options. 

CDC

600 CDC employees laid off as 700 others mistakenly receive termination notices

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the additional notices were sent in error. A union representing federal workers is challenging the firings, arguing that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to permanently eliminate jobs during a government shutdown. 

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HHS permanently cuts 1,200 jobs in response to government shutdown

President Donald Trump said the shutdown was an opportunity to cut more federal jobs, and it appears he’s made good on that threat. HHS confirmed that reduction-in-force notices were sent to “nonessential” workers as the agency moves to bare-bones operations.