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.

Heart failure experts agree: HFmrEF should not be ignored
Data on the treatment and management of HFmrEF are limited, but a new scientific statement from the Heart Failure Society of America highlights how important it is to take this condition seriously.
Radiologists collect $90M in research funding from imaging industry, with overall share of pie falling
Altogether, members of the specialty collected nearly 5,800 of these payments in 2024, from sources such as pharmaceutical companies and imaging device manufacturers.
Oz gives states 30 days to plan for Medicaid provider revalidation as part of CMS fraud audit
Speaking at a Politico health care policy forum, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, said he supports Medicaid, adding that “when you love something, you protect it.”
UnitedHealthcare drops most prior authorizations in rural areas as part of improvement initiative
The insurance giant has been piloting a program to speed up reimbursement to hospitals in 10 states, reducing delays by roughly 50%. Now, the company said it will work to lift prior authorization barriers on patient care delivery. The intent is to roll out these changes nationwide by the end of 2026, UnitedHealthcare confirmed.
Ways to address the expanding healthcare staffing shortage
Healthcare systems tell AMGA they are competing with Home Depot and other retailers for front office staff.

Statue of Liberty New York City healthcare

NUMC accuses ex-CEO of deleting records, seeks $10M in damages

The New York-based safety net hospital has accused former CEO Megan Ryan of impropriety that includes paying out $3.5 million to herself and 12 other executives. She denies the allegations, and claims she is a whistleblower for fraud committed by the state.

FDA clears new trial of first-in-class treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension

The new drug, VTB-10, previously received the FDA's orphan drug designation in 2024.

Tandem Diabetes Care is recalling a recent update of the mobile app for its t:slim X2 insulin pump due to repeated software issues that may cause the pump to shut down unexpectedly. The FDA has said this is a Class I recall.

Insulin pump error linked to 700 adverse events

Speaker issues are causing the devices to stop communicating with the user's CGM. Dozens of patient injuries have been reported, and the company is prepping a software update.

FDA hits pause on novel radiation therapy's approval

The therapy previously earned the FDA’s Breakthrough Device Designation due to its potential to treat certain cancers.

healthcare quality imaging appropriateness clinical decision support CDS checklist

CMS responds to criticism of pay model targeting ‘wasteful and inappropriate’ radiology services

The agency recently issued a frequently asked questions fact sheet about the WISeR model days after House Democrats expressed concern about the initiative.

Two doctors among those charged in $7M opioid distribution scheme

Four men in Michigan have been charged and are accused of $1 million in fraud, in addition to the illegal distribution of controlled substances. The defendants include two physicians, a clinic manager and a patient recruiter.

cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

New hypertension guidelines embrace early treatment, updated risk assessments and renal denervation

New ACC/AHA recommendations encourage clinicians to take a proactive approach when managing patients with elevated or high blood pressure. The inclusion of renal denervation in this document represents clear progress for a relatively new technology.

Anders Gilberg, MGA, senior vice president, government affairs at Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), shares concerns about the draft fee schedule published in July. A major concern is the government possibly changing how relative value units (RVUs) are set, rather than allowing the American Medical Association and medical speciality representatives having a say. #MGMA

MGMA warns of government overreach in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The Medical Group Management Association shares concerns about the draft fee schedule published in July. A major concern is the government possibly changing how RVUs are set, rather than allowing the medical specialty representatives to have a say.

Policy & Regulations

Heart failure experts agree: HFmrEF should not be ignored

Radiologists collect $90M in research funding from imaging industry, with overall share of pie falling

Oz gives states 30 days to plan for Medicaid provider revalidation as part of CMS fraud audit

UnitedHealthcare drops most prior authorizations in rural areas as part of improvement initiative

Ways to address the expanding healthcare staffing shortage