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.

CMS pauses all new Medicaid hospice and home health provider entries for six months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said it’s issuing a nationwide moratorium on new providers entering the spaces until it has a chance to look into allegations of fraud, waste and abuse. It confirmed investigations of various organizations are pending.
Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time
The days when most doctors worked in independent practice settings are fading from memory like old photoprints in a dog-eared scrapbook.
Key points to remember when performing cardiac ablations in ASCs
When CMS finalized coverage for cardiac ablations performed in ASCs, experts from HRS and ACC published recommendations for performing those procedures safely and effectively. One of the cardiologists behind that guidance shared some important takeaways with Cardiovascular Business.
Siemens Healthineers scores FDA clearance for 6 interventional systems
Each device comes equipped with a new AI feature designed to deliver high quality imaging at lower radiation doses during IR procedures.
Half of emergency CT requests for children may not adhere to imaging appropriateness criteria
The overuse of CT scans on kids could be owed, at least in part, to the fear of missing a critical finding, new research suggests.

FDA recall medical device recall product recall

Boston Scientific pacemakers recalled again—software update now available

The new Class I recall, which includes more than 1.4 million devices, is related to an issue first announced back in 2024. Updating the software should address the issue going forward, though some patients may still require an early replacement.

Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to speed up prior authorization in Medicare Advantage

Several healthcare stakeholders have voiced their support for the effort, including the Medical Group Management Association.

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Current political climate having 'detrimental' effect on radiology research, survey says

Published in Clinical Imaging, the responses indicate that Trump administration policies have made it more difficult to acquire funding and collaborate with other researchers.

FTC shuts down alleged health insurance fraud scheme involving the sale of low-quality plans

The owners of several telemarketing companies, along with the organizations themselves, have been named as defendants in a federal lawsuit. The Federal Trade Commission alleges that the group would sell bundled services as supposed “PPO” plans, leaving patients to discover that services were not covered.

Example of a RF burn from an MRI scan where a sedated patient's identification bracelet was touching their skin during an exam. Image courtesy of RSNA. https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.09090637

FDA: CVS and MediHoney wound gels recalled after 14 serious injuries

The wound and burn gels are manufactured by Integra LifeSciences. Defective packaging could cause the sterile barrier to fail, exposing the gels to pathogens. Due to the risk of severe infections, all recalled products must be removed from where they are used and sold.

5 reasons not to (solely) blame insurance companies for what ails US healthcare

As this midterm-election year barrels toward decision day, health insurers continue taking punches from both political parties. The piling-on might be as unfair as it is understandable.

Medicare and FDA propose granting rapid coverage for breakthrough radiology devices

The two agencies on April 23 announced the rollout of the Regulatory Alignment for Predictable and Immediate Device, or RAPID, coverage pathway.

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Radiology groups endorse bill to exempt physicians from $100,000 visa fee

ACR, ASNR and over 40 other organizations shared their support for the Healthcare Workforce Act in a letter to lawmakers written April 15.

Policy & Regulations

CMS pauses all new Medicaid hospice and home health provider entries for six months

Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time

Key points to remember when performing cardiac ablations in ASCs

Siemens Healthineers scores FDA clearance for 6 interventional systems

Half of emergency CT requests for children may not adhere to imaging appropriateness criteria