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.

4 points crucial to the nimble regulation of GenAI
With generative AI coming into its own, AI regulators must avoid relying too much on principles of risk management—and not enough on those of uncertainty management.
FDA recalls infant incubators due to risk of door falling off
A loose screw on the Giraffe OmniBed is to blame. With updated use instructions and repairs, the incubators are safe to use.
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT
CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.
Kentucky AG launches criminal probe after conscious man nearly has organs harvested
Three years ago Anthony Hoover was declared brain dead—until he woke up on the operating room table, moments before his organs were removed. His story has spurred a criminal investigation by Kentucky's attorney general.
FDA announces Class I recall of ventilators after 3 patient injuries
An unexpected nickel coating on the breathing circuits of Percussionaire Phasitron 5 ventilators is being blamed for the recall. The FDA is asking providers to stop using them immediately.

Strep throat treatment came with $25K medical bill

One New York City woman received the shock of a lifetime when her surprise medical bill to treat a cold and sore throat toped $25,000.

January 2, 2020

Drug prices rise once again in 2020

Drug prices are on the move upward once again in 2020, according to new data from 3 Axis Advisors.

January 2, 2020

Quality of care harmed after hospital acquisitions

Hospital acquisitions may have a negative impact on the quality of patient care, according to new findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study results may help answer the question of how mergers and acquisitions impact patients and quality of care.

January 2, 2020

Spending bill guts ACA taxes, medical device tax

President Trump signed the latest $1.4 trillion spending bills into law to fund the government and simultaneously gutted three taxes related to the Affordable Care Act: the health insurance tax, Cadillac tax and medical device tax.

December 23, 2019

World’s most expensive drug could be free for some in lottery

Novartis may give away a new drug with a price tag above $2 million for free to some patients using a lottery-style program. The drug, Zolgensma, is a cure for a deadly inherited disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and the world’s most expensive drug.

December 23, 2019

Humana execs sell $38M in shares

Humana’s top executives offloaded a significant sum of shares in late December, shedding about 107,077 Humana shares worth $37.7 million, Louisville Business First reported.

December 20, 2019

Cigna sells non-health business for $6.3B

Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurance providers, has agreed to sell its group disability and life insurance business to New York Life for a purchase price of $6.3 billion.

December 19, 2019

ACA's individual mandate struck down in court ruling

The individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, which requires individuals to have health insurance coverage or face a penalty, has been declared unconstitutional by the Fifth Circuit Court. The ruling is a victory for the Republican-led lawsuit to overturn the ACA. However, it still leaves other elements of the ACA without a decision, including the popular provision of healthcare coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

December 19, 2019

Around the web

AI in Healthcare

4 points crucial to the nimble regulation of GenAI

With generative AI coming into its own, AI regulators must avoid relying too much on principles of risk management—and not enough on those of uncertainty management.

Cardiovascular Business

Q&A: Why are cardiovascular devices involved in so many recalls? FDA policies may be to blame

Cardiovascular devices are more likely to be in a Class I recall than any other device type. The FDA's approval process appears to be at least partially responsible, though the agency is working to make some serious changes. We spoke to a researcher who has been tracking these data for years to learn more.

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologist compensation still rising, especially in invasive and interventional cardiology

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.