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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ACR, advocacy groups urge Congress to pass bill requiring Medicare coverage of CT colonography

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and numerous colorectal cancer care advocacy groups issued a statement this week calling for Congress to pass the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act (HR 1298).

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WSJ: Secret hospital contracts prevent healthcare savings

Healthcare costs continue to balloon in the United States, and secret contracts between hospital systems and insurers may be playing a big role in keeping those costs up.

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Senate approves sweeping opioid bill

The Senate approved a major bill to tackle the opioid crisis with a nearly unanimous vote.

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ICUS: FDA should remove ultrasound contrast agent warning

The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) has urged the U.S. FDA to remove boxed warnings from ultrasound contrast agents based on research demonstrating its safety and clinical benefits.

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Coca-Cola considers putting cannabis in a health drink

The Coca-Cola Company admitted it is taking a hard look at the use of cannabis in drinks after reports emerged that the company was in talks to develop a health drink infused with cannabidiol, a compound from the cannabis plant.

New CVS Health policy will exclude drugs above cost-effectiveness threshold

CVS Health will allow self-funded insurers to exclude some drugs from coverage if the cost is too high. The policy has been met with criticism from the pharmaceutical industry, which argues CVS is dividing treatment at arbitrary values.

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$69B CVS-Aetna deal may get regulatory approval soon

CVS Health’s $69 billion takeover of Aetna may soon be greenlit by the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, according to Reuters, which cited a source familiar with the matter.

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$67B Cigna-Express Scripts deal clears DOJ

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division has cleared the $67 billion acquisition of Express Scripts by Cigna.