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.

Governor signs law requiring insurers to cover all lung cancer screening services
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) formally signed S2000A/A1195A into law on Dec. 4, with it set to take effect in 2027.
Cardiologists join chorus of voices urging Trump administration to kill cybersecurity proposal
The proposal, first announced by the Biden administration, was developed to improve patient data security. Those opposed argue that it would significantly increase costs and create a logistical nightmare for hospitals and health systems throughout the country.
How US healthcare can win over—or win back—the American people
The American public’s trust in healthcare institutions, long a matter of common courtesy, fell off a cliff after the COVID-19 crisis. Two academic physicians propose a treatment pathway for the injured patient—aka our healthcare system’s reputation for reliability.
Kerfuffle continues over pending halt of hep B vaccine for babies
Reaction to the recommendation has been strong and mostly—but not entirely—negative.
Imaging advocates express frustration with final hospital outpatient payment rule
Medicare is reassigning one CPT code for SPECT scans, which will result in a 57% reduction in reimbursement for certain imaging exams.

New partnership seeks to increase imaging departments' remote-scanning capabilities

Many organizations are interested in remote scanning as a means of addressing ongoing technologist staffing shortages.

HHS announces crackdown on providers failing to share radiology results, other info

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the agency to increase resources dedicated to curbing the “harmful practice of information blocking.”

Over 1,000 HHS employees ask Congress, Trump to depose RFK

A group called Save HHS has sent an open letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding his resignation. If he refuses, the undersigned have asked Trump and Congress to remove Kennedy from power.

Florida looks to end all vaccine mandates, including those deemed routine

In a press conference held by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, condemned all compulsory vaccinations, declaring that the “body is a gift from God.”

job security job satisfaction healthcare Gen Z

Healthcare AI today: Gen Z job angst, AI anti-therapy, animal testing phaseout

Many Gen Z-ers pursuing careers in healthcare to avoid AI-related workforce shrinkage will learn a hard lesson: Job security and job satisfaction are two very different things.

New data challenge hype behind elective whole-body MRIs

Whole-body MRI scans may not yield the kind of early detection rates their celebrity endorsers have led many to believe.

Radiologist beware: Patients accessing imaging results much quicker after legislative change

Outpatients treated at the Mayo Clinic saw a nearly 78% drop in the median time it took to access their radiology reports, falling from about 4.9 hours down to 1.1 after the Cures Act.

FDA designates recall of Hamilton breathing circuits a Class I

Two lots of breathing circuits manufactured by Hamilton Medical have a defect that could cause the tubing to splinter. The affected devices must be quarantined, as they cannot be safely used on patients.

Policy & Regulations

Governor signs law requiring insurers to cover all lung cancer screening services

Cardiologists join chorus of voices urging Trump administration to kill cybersecurity proposal

How US healthcare can win over—or win back—the American people

Kerfuffle continues over pending halt of hep B vaccine for babies

Imaging advocates express frustration with final hospital outpatient payment rule