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. 

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

US drug prices soar above international averages

Drug prices in the U.S. are significantly higher than those in peer countries, according to new research from RAND. In fact, compared with 32 other countries combined, drug prices in the U.S. are 256% higher.

February 1, 2021

Biden to undo Trump-era healthcare policies

The Biden-Harris administration is planning to sign two executive orders to provide healthcare relief for those needing insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as undo some Trump administration policies that undermined the Affordable Care Act.

January 28, 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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