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. 

breast ultrasound biopsy

3 more states pass legislation bolstering breast imaging coverage

New Hampshire is one of the latest after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1296 into law May 31, eliminating OOP expenses for supplemental services.

UnitedHealthcare UHC UnitedHealth

Q&A: Healthcare cybersecurity advocate fears damage from Change Healthcare breach has only begun

Richard Staynings says the breach of Change Healthcare’s systems stems from consolidation, and the impact may devastate independent providers.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

3 in 5 US adults projected to have CVD by 2050, with a price tag of $1.8T—can cardiologists ‘turn the tide’?

More than 60% of adults in the United States are expected to have at least one form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, according to new data published by the American Heart Association. Fortunately, evidence does suggest that healthier lifestyles are starting to become more common as time goes on.

Centennial Park Nashville Tennessee Parthenon

State scales back certificate-of-need law, making it easier to add new advanced imaging services

The measure removes requirements related to MRI and PET, along with freestanding EDs and ambulatory surgery centers. 

HHS: ‘Who is responsible for ensuring that individuals affected by the Change Healthcare breach receive notification?’

HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has confirmed UnitedHealth Group can send out HIPAA-required notifications about the breach but stopped short of saying the company will be responsible for doing so.

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Radiology providers not responsible for breach notifications after Change cyberattack, HHS says

OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer emphasized that patients impacted by the incident “must be notified that their protected health information was breached.”

HeartFlow Plaque Analysis

AI-based coronary plaque assessments 1 step closer to Medicare coverage

According to a new proposal, using AI to evaluate CCTA results and quantify plaque buildup is “reasonable and medically necessary” in certain clinical scenarios.

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Rural New Mexico hospital may close its doors after $100M malpractice judgment

Rehoboth McKinley Medical Center lost a 2019 malpractice case involving a botched hernia surgery. The hospital was already operating at a loss before the case went to court.