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. 

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How one institution’s free cancer screenings improved care, boosted profits

A free lung cancer screening program using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines detected more cancers and ultimately generated profit for the institution conducting the screenings, according to a single-center study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

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Walgreens settles fraud cases for $269M

Walgreens Boots Alliance has settled two fraud cases with the Department of Justice, shelling out $269.2 million. In both cases, which arose from whistleblowers, Walgreens admitted and accepted responsibility for conduct alleged by the government in its complaint under the False Claims Act.

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FDA shares final guidance detailing new regulatory pathway for medical devices

The FDA has published the final guidance for its new regulatory pathway aimed at helping medical device manufacturers gain 510(k) approval by meeting certain safety and performance criteria. 

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Government shutdown poses risks to ACA, healthcare services

The U.S. government shutdown, which is now the longest-running in history, could potentially harm consumers and undermine the stability of the Affordable Care Act healthcare insurance market, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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Support for Medicare for all remains above 50%

As progressive Democrats increasingly push for universal healthcare, known as Medicare for all, support for such a plan is mixed when it comes to paying for it, according to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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Pharma industry spending on lobbying exploded in 2018

The trade group for the U.S.'s top drugmakers spent a record amount—$27.5 million—on lobbying efforts in 2018, according to Bloomberg.

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More groups ask CMS to push back ACO deadline

More industry groups are pushing back against an upcoming deadline for accountable care organizations (ACOs) to apply to the updated Medicare Shared Savings Program.

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Medicare reimbursements don’t cover the cost of care

Medicare payments in 2019 aren’t likely to cover the cost of delivering care for two-thirds of medical practices, according to a survey from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).