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.

States move breast cancer screening bills forward

The bills update the ages at which insurance carriers are required to cover screening mammograms and add language that includes tomosynthesis in the definition of mammographic screening.

March 21, 2022

Medicare money payment physician. The CardioVascular Coalition and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions have both issued new statements highlighting their issues with the 2024 MPFS proposed rule.

Proposed bill would cancel student loan debt for healthcare workers

A new bill would cancel the student debt of healthcare workers and teachers.

March 17, 2022

Healthcare groups urge Congress to extend hospital-at-home waivers

Dozens of healthcare groups have banded together to ask Congress to extend waivers for hospital care at home that were granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 14, 2022

Examples of two lung cancers that were caught using low dose CT lung screening. Image from RSNA

Q&A: What updated reimbursement policies could mean for CT lung screening rates in the United States

The ACR said a recent reimbursement rule change for low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung screen scans will help open up screening to more patients.

March 11, 2022

Heart failure hospitalizations among young adults are getting more common and more expensive

HHS reports 40% decline in uninsured black Americans with the Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report March 8 that shows historic gains in healthcare coverage among black Americans.

March 9, 2022

Prior authorization burdens are increasing

Healthcare leaders agree prior authorization burdens are increasing.

March 7, 2022

Radiology practices’ use of nurse practitioners, physician assistants has swelled in recent years

Imaging practices more likely to utilize NPPs are in urban areas, larger in size, and have a higher percentage of IR specialists, experts wrote in JACR.

March 4, 2022

District of Columbia DC congress capitol hill

ACR among dozens of doc groups urging feds to forgo looming Medicare cuts

Congress paused planned sequester cuts for the first three months of 2022, but they'll starting hitting docs on April 1, imaging advocates noted.

March 4, 2022

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”