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. 

money cybersecurity ransomware health IT data breach hacker

US Radiology Specialists will pay $450K for failing to upgrade hardware to prevent ransomware attack

Stemming from this alleged oversight, a “threat actor” gained access to its network and stole personal health information from 198,260 patients across the U.S. 

November 10, 2023
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Hopkins hospital ordered to pay $261M in purported ‘Munchausen’ case made famous by Netflix

The civil case has a very high profile since the story unfolded in excruciating detail in a widely viewed documentary.

November 10, 2023
Piggy Bank

Senate Finance Committee advances bill to mitigate radiologist pay cuts in Medicare

"Instead of Congress making payment adjustments every year, it's time we address the underlying issues and make long-term reforms," said Sen. John Thune. 

November 9, 2023
tirzepatide injections Zepbound Eli Lilly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Eli Lilly and Company’s tirzepatide injections for chronic weight management in adult patients who are obese, overweight or present with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. These weekly injections are being sold and distributed under the brand name Zepbound. Tirzepatide is also used in Mounjaro, FDA cleared in 2022 for improving glycemic control in adults.

FDA approves diabetes drug tirzepatide for chronic weight management under new name

The FDA issued its own statement about the approval, highlighting the importance of taking the drug in combination with an improved diet and regular physical activity.  

November 8, 2023
Ultromics EchoGo AI platform. When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, it included an updated reimbursement for the EchoGo Heart Failure platform from Ultromics. EchoGo Heart Failure is now associated with an ambulatory payment classification (APC) code of APC 5743 and a payment rate of $284.88.

CMS increases reimbursement for AI-powered heart failure platform

Ultromics thinks the significant payment increase will help ramp up utilization among U.S. healthcare providers.

November 8, 2023
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Recor Medical’s Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation (RDN) system for uncontrolled hypertension. The Recor system gained FDA clearance in November 2023.

FDA approves first renal denervation system for uncontrolled hypertension

The system, designed for patients with uncontrolled hypertension who are unresponsive to medication, uses ultrasound ablation to target nerves in the renal arteries, increasing blood flow. This approval comes just months after an FDA advisory panel voted in favor of the system. 

November 8, 2023
money maze payment reimbursement

CMS declines to issue imaging agent reimbursement fix in final hospital outpatient payment rule

The agency received “considerable interest” in a comment solicitation on this topic, with respondents providing “various insights and potential policy changes.” 

November 8, 2023
Christopher Kit Crancer RBMA

The American public understands that cutting Medicare harms everyone

Radiology Business Management Association leaders contend that slashing Medicare reimbursement "ignores overwhelming public wisdom."

November 8, 2023