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. 

MRI study underscores patients don’t shop around for lower prices

A new study has reaffirmed that consumers don’t really shop around to find lower healthcare prices.

March 3, 2021

Star ratings really do reflect quality of care in Medicare Advantage

Higher star ratings may be associated with better patient outcomes in Medicare Advantage plans, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

 

February 23, 2021
Investigation

Price transparency rattling hospitals to varying degrees, effects

A month and a half after hospitals were mandated to show their prices for shoppable services, anecdotal evidence shows some may be deeming the penalty of up to $300 per day insufficiently incentivizing.

February 12, 2021

6 steps major new coalition will pursue to grow Obamacare, reach for universal healthcare

A new alliance of powerful associations representing providers, payers, hospitals and employers has formed to push U.S. healthcare toward universal coverage.

February 10, 2021

US drug prices soar above international averages

Drug prices in the U.S. are significantly higher than those in peer countries, according to new research from RAND. In fact, compared with 32 other countries combined, drug prices in the U.S. are 256% higher.

February 1, 2021

Biden to undo Trump-era healthcare policies

The Biden-Harris administration is planning to sign two executive orders to provide healthcare relief for those needing insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as undo some Trump administration policies that undermined the Affordable Care Act.

January 28, 2021
Price Shopping

More evidence hospitals grudgingly complying on price transparency for ‘shoppable services’

Another quick field check has found the federal rule requiring hospitals to show their prices for shoppable services meeting with only spotty compliance since it went into effect Jan. 1.

January 21, 2021
Opioids

Large health system paying record $7.75M for carelessness with pain pills

Fifteen-hospital McLaren Health Care has agreed to pay $7.75 million for illegally distributing prescription painkillers. 

January 20, 2021

Around the web

This week Washington took a major step toward nailing down a solid game plan on federal AI spending for everything outside of defense.

The recall includes specific lots of five different medical devices used to treat stroke and other neurovascular diseases.

The agency is urging healthcare providers to transition away from these devices and seek out alternatives. It is even working with other manufacturers to try and get similar products on the market as quickly as possible. 

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