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.

Medicare on solid ground for now but headed for fiscal quicksand
Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund has the wherewithal to pay the full bill for beneficiaries’ stays in hospitals, hospice sites and skilled nursing facilities for the next 12 years. But what then?
The push for an independent cardiology board continues
Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, one of the leading voices behind efforts to create a new Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about where things stand today.
Steward Health Care files for bankruptcy, citing rising labor costs and reduced reimbursement
The health system employs 40,000 people and cares for more than 12 million patients in eight states.
AMA says Change Healthcare breach is crippling independent practices
A survey of physicians by the American Medical Association reveals that many practices are still losing revenue and struggling to make payroll as a result of the Change Healthcare hack.
ACLU sues North Carolina over illegal detention of mental health patients
A lawsuit filed in federal court claims the state is detaining mentally ill and disabled patients without due process or proper access to treatment.

Burwell calls for transparency following enrollment data error

Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell is calling for “a culture of increased transparency” after Affordable Care Act enrollment data accidentally were inflated with dental plan customers, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

November 25, 2014

Obama sued by House Republicans over ACA

Republications in the House of Representatives have filed a lawsuit against President Obama over the Affordable Care Act, reports Los Angeles Times.

November 22, 2014

DOJ recovers $2.3B in false claims

The Department of Justice has recovered $2.3 billion from alleged healthcare fraud schemes during fiscal year 2014, reports Modern Healthcare. 

November 22, 2014

CMS launches new data and analytics office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid has formed a new Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics, which will help the agency better harness its vast data resources, reports Clinical Innovation + Technology.

November 19, 2014

HHS proposal would expand clinical trial data disclosure requirements

The Department of Health & Human Services has released a proposed rule that would require companies to report summary results for drugs and devices that are never approved and not just for products that reach the marketplace, reports the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

November 19, 2014

HealthCare.gov attracts steady traffic on first live weekday

The first weekday of the sign-up season for HealthCare.gov attracted plenty of traffic, although some users did encounter a few minor bumps, reports ABC News.

November 18, 2014

Early praise for Healthcare.gov

Healthcare.gov opened for browsing over the weekend, and users are offering some early praise on the design improvements, reports Bloomberg Businessweek.  

November 13, 2014

Feds lower expectations for open enrollment period

The Department of Health & Human Services has lowered its prediction for the number of enrollees from 13 million to 9-9.9 million for coverage through state and federal exchanges for 2015, reports Modern Healthcare. 

November 11, 2014

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

The push for an independent cardiology board continues

Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, one of the leading voices behind efforts to create a new Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about where things stand today.

AI in Healthcare

Biden Administration itemizes AI accomplishments to date

Half a year after President Biden officially directed federal agencies in the executive branch’s bailiwick to “seize the promise and manage the risks” of AI, the White House has posted a status report.

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?