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.

Advocacy group asks Congress for $377M increase in funds for the FDA
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA said the increase is necessary to pay salaries and cover the organization's ballooning operational expenses.
FDA clears advanced AI model for predicting heart failure risk
The new algorithm from Implicity evaluates implantable device data and monitors patients for changes that suggest they could experience severe heart failure symptoms in the near future. It was designed to alert clinicians up to weeks in advance.
Maryland enacts sweeping ban on noncompetes for all healthcare professionals
The new law will ban noncompetes in the state for all healthcare workers who provide care, including veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
About that bipartisan $32B ‘roadmap’ for AI policy: What’s in it for healthcare?
This week Washington took a major step toward nailing down a solid game plan on federal AI spending for everything outside of defense.
FDA set to evaluate use of ‘ecstasy’ for treating PTSD
The party drug could soon be prescribed, in conjunction with psychological interventions, as a treatment for mental health disorders.

Health system announces new plan to refund patients if expectations aren't met

The Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System has unveiled its ProvenExperience program, which offers refunds to patients who don’t have their expectations met while receiving care. 

November 13, 2015

Healthcare leaders spanning the globe urge U.S. presidential hopefuls to back openness on clinical trials

Close to 60 physicians, medical researchers and public-health experts from around the world are imploring American presidential candidates to state whether they support access to all clinical trial data held by U.S. federal agencies—regardless of the trials’ topics, findings, sponsors or geographical settings. 

November 13, 2015

Lumenis Acquires Israeli-Based Pollogen Strengthening and Expanding Its Aesthetic Division

Lumenis Ltd., the world's largest energy-based medical device company for aesthetic, surgical and ophthalmic applications, announced today that the company has completed the acquisition of Pollogen Ltd. 

November 3, 2015

CMS reports smooth ICD-10 transition to date

The transition to ICD-10 is going well, according to the first numbers released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

October 29, 2015

Senators introduce bipartisan bills to expedite FDA approval for medical devices

Republican senator Cory Gardner (Colorado) and Democrat senator Joe Donnelly (Indiana) introduced two bills on Oct. 21 to accelerate the FDA approval process for medical devices.

October 22, 2015

The transition finally happens

After years of debate, several delays and lots of preparation, the big news this week was that it's finally time to start using the ICD-10 codeset. 

October 2, 2015

Lawmakers join groups urging MU delay

A bipartisan group of congressional leaders has joined other calls for a delay in the Meaningful Use program.

September 29, 2015

New AHIMA tool ready to help with accurate coding

With the clock ticking down to the Oct. 1 deadline to transition to the ICD-10 dataset, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has introduced a new tool to help providers succeed with the transition.

September 28, 2015

Around the web

AI in Healthcare

About that bipartisan $32B ‘roadmap’ for AI policy: What’s in it for healthcare?

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

Cardiovascular Business

FDA announces new recall of delivery catheters after patient’s death

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

Cardiovascular Business

FDA warns against use of troubled heart devices, citing ‘continued concerns’ after multiple recalls

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.