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.

Nurse suing hospital for failing to head off vicious attack by patient
A hospital and its security contractor are facing legal trouble over a brutal beating taken by a unit nurse at the hands of a mentally ill inpatient a year ago.
Heart failure company BioVentrix files for IPO
The company, known for its advanced heart failure technologies, hopes to be traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol BVXX.
Medtronic’s RDN system receives new reimbursement approval
More than 40 million adults now have improved access to Medtronic's Symplicity Spyral renal denervation technology.
Moderna, FDA reach compromise to accelerate approval of mRNA flu vaccine
The dispute centered around the pharmaceutical company's request for the shot to be approved for those aged 65 and over, a demographic the FDA argued was not properly represented in a 40,000-person clinical study. The company has agreed to perform additional research after the shot goes to market, having appeased regulators with safety data.
Federal court strikes down FTC mergers and acquisitions reporting rule
A U.S. District Court in Texas ruled that the agency overstepped its regulatory authority in passing the 2024 Biden-era reporting requirement, which would require stakeholders to spend more than 100 hours filling out a long form to give the agency more oversight of transactions.

Medicare releases 2026 physician fee schedule, finalizing cuts opposed by radiology

Medicare is finalizing a controversial “efficiency adjustment” and cuts related to practice expenses—both opposed by imaging groups earlier this year.

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45% of seniors report longer wait times for care than 1 year ago, new RBMA survey finds

About 60% of those experiencing delays said they’ve struggled to find doctors who accept Medicare, the Radiology Business Management Association reports.

CMS 2026 physician fee schedule emphasizes chronic disease management, includes pay raise

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a 3.26% reimbursement increase for all providers, with those enrolled in alternative payment models seeing a higher rise.

Contractor for clinician-focused addiction recovery program sued over ‘punishingly expensive’ practices

The plaintiffs, 10 nurses and one doctor, are all enrolled in the state-mandated initiative for clinicians with past substance abuse issues. The rules require monitoring and regular drug testing to prove sobriety; however, the lot argues that the contractor in charge, Maximus, is being dishonestly punitive.

At the recent American College of Cardiology (ACC) Legislative Committee meeting, leaders warned that ongoing federal policy uncertainty threatens patient access and the stability of cardiovascular care. Cathie Biga, MSM, immediate past president of the ACC, outlined growing concerns over telehealth, shrinking Medicare reimbursement, and mounting physician workforce shortages driven by visa restrictions.

ACC raises red flags over telehealth, payment reform and the cardiologist shortage

"We need telehealth the way we had it for COVID," Cathie Biga told Cardiovascular Business at TCT 2025. "We don't want to go back to having it so restricted."

Radiologists remain dominant specialty for key clot-busting procedure, with opportunity for expansion

Cardiologists recorded the biggest overall uptick in claims at roughly 185%, according to research published Thursday in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Healthcare AI today: Rusty clinical skills, AI growing up so fast, AI for the malnourished

Clinicians who come to rely on AI for decision support risk the dulling of their skills. The concern is not new. But now comes a pointed call to researchers: Inquire about the particulars of the peril.

Hospital lobby strongly urges Medicare to delay model targeting ‘wasteful’ radiology services

The American Medical Association also recently held a webinar about WISeR to share key details with physicians.

Policy & Regulations

Nurse suing hospital for failing to head off vicious attack by patient

Heart failure company BioVentrix files for IPO

Medtronic’s RDN system receives new reimbursement approval

Moderna, FDA reach compromise to accelerate approval of mRNA flu vaccine

Federal court strikes down FTC mergers and acquisitions reporting rule