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.

FDA announces recall of SonarMed airway monitors after injury
Medtronic brand SonarMed airway monitors and acoustic sensors are being recalled due to a risk of breathing obstruction and lung tissue damage.
‘Concerning’ data connect industry payments to cardiologists with medical device use
U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned?
Philips settles cases over faulty sleep apnea machines for $1.1B
The litigation stems from a 2023 recall of CPAP machines and ventilators that caused users to inhale pieces of foam during use. The faulty units were linked to at least 561 deaths.
AMGA condemns FTC ban on noncompetes in healthcare
The healthcare employers’ trade group said a nationwide ban on noncompete contracts will stifle investment in new technologies.
Kaiser Permanente exposed data on 13.4 million members to tech companies
Tracking technologies sent patient information to advertisers such as Microsoft, Google and Meta.

NYC hospitals dragging feet on price transparency

If the hospitals of America’s most populous city are any sort of bellwether, CMS is going to have its hands full trying to enforce compliance with the Trump Administration’s executive order on price transparency.

January 19, 2021

Mandating flu shot availability for healthcare workers saves patient lives

Hospitals required by state laws to offer healthcare workers flu shots can expect significantly reduced flu and pneumonia mortality compared with hospitals in states forgoing such mandates.

January 5, 2021

Hospital price transparency closing in

Is your organization ready to meet the new federal requirements on hospital price transparency? The policy is set to go live on New Year’s Day.

December 22, 2020

Medicaid solidifies value-based drug payments

The revised system gives states greater leeway than they’ve had to cut value-based purchasing deals with pharma companies on innovative but expensive drugs.

December 22, 2020

EU trying to anticipate, head off threats AI may pose to human rights

Various scenarios within medical diagnostics are among the AI use cases that an official European watchdog has flagged as a potential source of hazards to fundamental human rights.

December 14, 2020

3 industry orgs suing HHS, FDA over Canadian drug imports

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is combining forces with two other groups to challenge the FDA final rule allowing broad, state-by-state importation of drugs from Canada.

November 24, 2020

4 forces favoring, 5 working against Biden’s wish to lower Medicare eligibility age

President-elect Joe Biden wants to drop Medicare’s eligibility age to 60. If he succeeds, the move might bring in well more than 20 million new enrollees. What are the odds he’ll plant that piece of a potentially sweeping healthcare agenda?

November 12, 2020

3 areas newly ripe for employer-driven change in healthcare policy

A healthcare research firm specializing in purchasing has considered the post-election landscape from the vantage point of large employers offering health benefits to their workers.

November 9, 2020

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

‘Concerning’ data connect industry payments to cardiologists with medical device use

U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned?

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology groups share key update: ABMS seeking feedback on proposed Board of Cardiovascular Medicine

Five of the largest U.S. medical societies focused on cardiovascular health are one step closer to seeing their paradigm-shifting proposal become a reality.

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologists, thoracic surgeons applaud FTC’s ban of most noncompete clauses

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions and Society of Thoracic Surgeons have both shared statements in support of the ban, which is already being challenged in court. The American Hospital Association, meanwhile, opposes the policy shift, saying it “errs by seeking to create a one-size-fits-all rule”