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. 

LGBTQ care lesbian gay rainbow

Biden administration reverses Trump-era healthcare discrimination rule

The Department of Health and Human Services has overturned a Trump-era rule that would have allowed healthcare providers to discriminate against patients based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 

 

May 12, 2021
vaccine

Biden administration waives protections for COVID-19 vaccines

The Biden administration has backed the waiving of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, supporting a proposal from the World Trade Organization to improve worldwide vaccinations against the deadly virus.

 

May 5, 2021

Biden administration promotes new Obamacare subsidies in $50M campaign

The American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief law that provided stimulus checks to most Americans, included several healthcare changes that will reduce costs for many Americans. The Biden administration is now preparing to spend $50 million in advertising to promote those healthcare changes,

March 31, 2021
Laboratory

FTC files suit to stop Illumina’s $7.1B takeover of life sciences firm

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Illumina, a gene sequencing firm, in an effort to stop its proposed $7.1 billion acquisition of life sciences firm Grail. 

 

March 31, 2021

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

Around the web

In addition, cardiologists average an additional $75,000 per year in incentive-based bonuses. That number is only higher for two other specialties. 

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open. 

The rumors, it seems, were true. Once the deal is finalized, Shockwave Medical will operate as a business unit within Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

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