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.

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately
The FDA has categorized this as a Class I recall. If patients update their phone or watch apps as needed, they can continue to use these devices like normal.
Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV
The American College of Cardiology has shared new recommendations highlighting the protective benefits of a variety of vaccines. The new guidance also examines how to speak with patients who are hesitant to be vaccinated.
Medicare has denied $16M worth of radiology artificial intelligence claims
The federal payment program first started paying for AI in 2018 and has denied about 53% of claims (or 53,857) submitted by radiologists since then, experts detail in JACR.
Members of Congress propose tapping foreign-born physicians to relieve radiology workforce shortages
Lawmakers in both chambers have reintroduced the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, touting support from the American Hospital Association and several physician societies.
Medicare opts not to make CT radiation-related quality measure mandatory in 2027
The measure evaluates the proportion of scans that exceed certain thresholds for image noise or radiation dose across 18 categories.

White House prepping another exec order on drug prices

President Trump is reportedly working on another executive order targeting rising drug prices, according to Reuters.

Healthcare deal volume grows again

Health services deal volume is heating up once again, according to the latest quarterly report from PwC. The second quarter of 2019 marked the eighth consecutive quarter where deal volume exceeded 250 deals.

Behavioral healthcare M&A pace picks up

The behavioral healthcare services space is gaining traction in the larger healthcare sector, supported by higher mergers and acquisition activity year to date.

Tenet to spin off Conifer business into separate entity

Tenet Healthcare, a Dallas-based healthcare services company that operates 65 hospitals and 500 other healthcare facilities with 110,000 employees, will spin off its revenue cycle subsidiary, Conifer, into a separate entity.

Ciox Health raises $30M from Merck, New Mountain

Clinical data exchange and health technology company Ciox Health has raised $30 million in equity investment in a funding round led by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and private equity owner New Mountain Capital.

Congress pushes for TRICARE beneficiaries to receive DBT screening coverage

Members of Congress have urged the Military Health System (MHS) to cover digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for all active and retired military personnel who take part in the TRICARE health insurance program.

Hospital use probably won’t rise due to Medicare for all

With Medicare for all on the lips of many Democratic presidential candidates and public support for universal healthcare coverage at its highest ever, concerns about healthcare usage under such a system have arisen. However, hospital use isn’t likely to rise under a Medicare-for-all plan, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

MITA backs push to include DBT screening coverage for TRICARE beneficiaries

U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), along with numerous other members of Congress, addressed a letter to the Military Health System (MHS) urging its leadership to provide DBT coverage to TRICARE health beneficiaries.

Policy & Regulations

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately

Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV

Medicare has denied $16M worth of radiology artificial intelligence claims

Members of Congress propose tapping foreign-born physicians to relieve radiology workforce shortages

Medicare opts not to make CT radiation-related quality measure mandatory in 2027