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.

Joint replacements recalled after FDA safety warning
The FDA initially made the complaint in January. Exactech has agreed to recall products at risk of chemical oxidation as a result of faulty packaging.
Mental health platform fined $7M by FTC for sharing data with advertisers
Cerebral has admitted to improperly sharing data with social media platforms for the purpose of targeted advertising. The company also made it difficult to cancel the service, costing its members millions.
Healthcare worker sentenced to 10 years for abusing disabled patients
Tyler Smith and co-defendant Zachary Dinell confessed to assaulting more than a dozen patients, expressing hatred for them simply because they’re disabled.
Health system employees win $200M lawsuit over unpaid wages
In a complaint first filed in 2021, the plaintiffs said not-for-profit Providence Health & Services used an illegal time-clock policy to steal owed pay of more than $98 million from workers over the course of several years.
Nurses gather at Kaiser hospital to protest rapid adoption of AI
The California Nurses Association said AI is largely unregulated, untested and poses a serious threat to patient safety.

District of Columbia DC congress capitol hill

CMS delays start of Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model yet again

The mandatory bundled payment initiative was slated to kick off Jan. 1, 2023, following numerous delays, but will now launch on a to-be-determined date.

April 7, 2022

CVS settles opioid case with Florida for $484M

CVS Health has settled with the state of Florida for $484 million to resolve claims for opioid medications filled at CVS pharmacies.

March 30, 2022

Justice Department steps into EHR vendor lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice has become involved in a lawsuit against electronic health record (EHR) vendor Modernizing Medicine.

March 30, 2022

coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine vaccination

AHA asks Congress to provide more COVID-19 funds

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has asked Congress to provide more financial relief as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

March 25, 2022

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

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologist salary update: Compensation jumps to $525K per year, No. 3 among all specialties

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

Cardiovascular Business

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

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.

Cardiovascular Business

Johnson & Johnson to acquire Shockwave Medical for $13.1B

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

Policy & Regulations

Joint replacements recalled after FDA safety warning

Mental health platform fined $7M by FTC for sharing data with advertisers

Healthcare worker sentenced to 10 years for abusing disabled patients

Health system employees win $200M lawsuit over unpaid wages

Nurses gather at Kaiser hospital to protest rapid adoption of AI

Around the web