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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CMS issues guidance to cut spread pricing in Medicaid

CMS has issued a new guidance to limit the prevalence of spread pricing in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of a broader effort to lower prescription drug costs.

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New study to explore what healthcare providers know, need to learn about breast density

DenseBreast-info.org (DB-I) has launched a new research study to evaluate how educational interventions affect a healthcare provider’s knowledge of breast density.

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Walmart, Covera Health partner to bring high-quality imaging to employees

Walmart and Covera Health, a New York City-based health analytics company have announced a multi-year collaboration to cut down on unnecessary treatment based on misdiagnosed imaging exams.

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How rural America is grappling with hospital closures

Rural hospitals are closing at a quick pace, leaving communities at a loss after sometimes long-standing institutions shutter their doors. In Fort Scott, Kan., the closure of a 132-year-old hospital had to be reckoned with, and the closure brings up the question of if small towns need a traditional hospital at all, NPR reported.

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20 drug companies hit with lawsuit for inflating drug prices

Forty-four U.S. states have joined together in a lawsuit against 20 drug manufacturers, accusing them of scheme to inflate drug prices and eliminate competition in the market, Reuters reported. The drugmakers are accused of jacking up the prices by more than 1,000% in some cases.

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How New York stopped surprise billing

As the Trump administration looks for ways to reduce the burden on Americans when they receive a surprise medical bill, it could borrow ideas from New York, which approved legislation in 2014 that has safeguarded residents in the state from being hit with out-of-network charges.

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Best and worst states for physicians to practice in 2019

With high compensation and a good work-life balance, Minnesota is the best state for physicians to thrive in 2019, according to a recent ranking from Medscape.

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Judge reviewing CVS-Aetna $69B merger unlikely to unravel deal

CVS Health is still embroiled in a dispute over its $69 billion merger with Aetna, which was approved by the Department of Justice last year and closed in late 2018. However, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon isn’t so sure the deal hasn’t crossed any antitrust laws and is reviewing the case in court.