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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Breast density reporting legislation signed into law in Utah, Washington and Florida

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Florida Gov. Rick Scott have all signed breast density reporting legislation into law this week. These laws require facilities that perform mammography to notify patients when it is determined they have dense breast tissue.

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Maryland all-payer hospital program saves $586M in 3 years

The global budgeting, all-payer program adopted for most of Maryland’s hospitals has succeeded in keeping the growth in hospital revenue and Medicare expenditures below the rest of the nation through its first three years, while also reducing readmissions and complications.

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Partners-Care New England merger likely to raise premiums

A study from the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner said the state’s residents would see increases in insurance premiums if Boston-based Partners Healthcare acquires Care New England, thanks to Partners likely using its regional market clout to gain better prices from insurers.

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What’s in, what’s out of Trump’s opioid plan

The goal of the opioid epidemic response plan announced by President Donald Trump will be to cut opioid prescriptions by 33 percent within three years, according to POLITICO.

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Radiologic groups help block Oregon legislation allowing nurses to perform imaging procedures

The legislation would have let nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists perform and supervise medical imaging procedures, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

UnitedHealth won’t buy Envision’s ambulatory unit after lawsuit

UnitedHealth Group has dropped its bid to acquire the ambulatory services unit of Envision Healthcare and isn’t interested in participating in any deals to scoop up parts or all of the company, according to Bloomberg.

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CMS’ Kate Goodrich: MACRA changes coming, but not on certified EHR

Easing clinician burden under the payment tracks implemented as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) will be a priority for CMS in this year’s rulemaking, according to Kate Goodrich, MD, the agency’s chief medical officer. What won’t be changing, however, is requiring providers to meet the 2015 edition of certified electronic health record technology (CHERT) standards.

Colorectal cancer advocacy group sends representatives to Capitol Hill for 12th straight year

Fight Colorectal Cancer, a patient advocacy group first founded in 2005, is sending representatives to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for the 12th straight year to ask lawmakers to support “the prevention, detection and treatment of colorectal cancer.” This year, the group is sending 150 advocates from the United States and Puerto Rico.