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.

Congressional Medicare advisors recommend tying radiologist pay increases to inflation
The American Medical Association this week criticized cuts to physician pay, while Medicare Advantage plans are slated to see a 4.33% boost.
Industry Watcher’s Digest
HHS isn’t waiting to see what its incoming secretary does before filling some key leadership positions.
FTC, DOJ and HHS release report warning of private equity consolidation in healthcare
The agencies said private equity firms are rolling up healthcare sectors through serialized purchases that fly under the radar of regulators, creating an unsustainable level of consolidation.
FDA threatens Hologic with punishment for reported errors in making troubled breast device
Concerns stem from manufacturing and distribution of the BioZorb marker, with possible ramifications including "seizure, injunction and civil money penalties."
Several states propose legislation to bolster coverage for supplemental breast imaging
Those proposing breast imaging-related measures so far in 2025 have included Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia, ACR reports.

FDA posts final guidance on 'least burdensome’ approach for medical device regulation

“Applying the least burdensome approach means gathering the minimum amount of information necessary to adequately address a relevant regulatory question or issue through the most efficient manner at the right time,” according to the agency.

Zuckerberg Hospital pauses balance billing practice after media reports

Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital has temporarily halted its “aggressive” billing practices after media reports brought backlash against the trauma center named after Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

CHI and Dignity complete merger, renamed CommonSpirit

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health have completed their merger, launching a new nonprofit Catholic health system, CommonSpirit Health. The deal brings together two of the nation’s largest Catholic healthcare systems.

HCA completes $1.5B acquisition of Mission Health

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare completed its purchase of Mission Health for approximately $1.5 billion.

ER doctors subpoenaed for incorrectly ordering imaging exams

Emergency room (ER) doctors at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence have been delivered subpoenas charging them with medical misconduct for incorrectly ordering imaging examinations, according to an article published Jan. 30 by Politico.

Human insulin therapy minimizes out-of-pocket costs for type 2 diabetics

Switching type 2 diabetics from analogue insulin therapies to human insulin products saves patients money without compromising health, according to new research published in JAMA.

Nearly half of adults haven’t heard of Medicare for all

Nearly half––46 percent––of adults reported they had not heard of a health policy known as Medicare for all, according to a recent AmeriSpeak Spotlight on Health survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.

New Hampshire-run website helped patients save millions on imaging

The state-run website—HealthCost—reduced medical imaging costs by five percent for patients and four percent for insurers, according to Zach Brown, PhD, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Policy & Regulations

Congressional Medicare advisors recommend tying radiologist pay increases to inflation

Industry Watcher’s Digest

FTC, DOJ and HHS release report warning of private equity consolidation in healthcare

FDA threatens Hologic with punishment for reported errors in making troubled breast device

Several states propose legislation to bolster coverage for supplemental breast imaging