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. 

Seema Verma WaPo

Washington implores parents, providers to catch kids up on regular doctor visits

So many parents have held children back from visiting clinicians’ offices during the COVID crisis that CMS is issuing an urgent call to action: Please hold them back no more.

September 24, 2020

Nursing homes using hospitals as middlemen to bounce low-reimbursement, high-maintenance residents

A common tactic is sending off Medicaid-covered seniors with dementia following emergency “psychotic” episodes. When psychiatric wards and hospitals quickly discharge the patients, the nursing homes refuse to take them back in.

September 21, 2020
Hospital Costs

Rand study suggests hospitals are exorbitantly overpaid by private insurers; AHA reacts

In real dollars, these payers’ combined savings would have nearly reached $20 billion just in 2018, the analysis shows.

September 21, 2020

Lawmaker ‘deeply concerned’ over $250M HHS contract for coronavirus-related PR work

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., worries the agency is using taxpayer funds to fuel the commander-in-chief’s bid for a second term. 

September 14, 2020
Twenty-three percent of cardiologists have a net worth of more than $5 million, No. 5 among all specialties, according to a new report. A majority of cardiologists also said they have had no significant financial losses in the last year. What are cardiologists paid? How much do cardiologists make?

Alleged Stark violations, kickbacks to cost hospital $50M

A 223-bed acute care institution with a medical staff of nearly 300 physicians has agreed to pay $50 million over allegations it deliberately submitted ineligible claims to Medicare and profited handsomely by these actions.  

September 10, 2020
Hurdles

4 hurdles thwarting AI from conquering clinical practice

AI will not earn a place in the daily practice of medicine until its developers definitively answer some pressing questions on fitness and appropriateness.

September 9, 2020
Gaiter Facemask

Researchers clarify: Don’t dismiss the neck gaiter as a facemask failure

Remember the Duke study that seemed to suggest a neck gaiter can spread more COVID than no mask at all? Its authors now say their findings were misconstrued. Gaiters may be OK after all.

August 19, 2020

Standard operating procedures start chugging back to life at Medicare, Medicaid

As part of its Monday announcement, CMS released inspection guidance for state agencies and a toolkit for nursing homes.

August 17, 2020

Around the web

More than 5,000 U.S. physicians joined forces to launch the new group. They say they are focused on limiting private equity's involvement and influence in healthcare. 

Just 10.5% of U.S. physicians said they view private equity ownership in healthcare in a positive light. 

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup