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. 

Monitoring acute heart patients at home linked to considerable cost savings

The new report could go on to help guide decisions made by CMS and hospital leadership teams for years to come.

Medtronic's MiniMed 780 (left) and 670 (right) insulin pumps in FDA recall

FDA rules Medtronic’s insulin pump issues a Class I recall due to safety risks

Some of Medtronic's 600 and 700 series MiniMed insulin pumps are experiencing significant battery issues when dropped, bumped or impacted in any way. This has been linked to reports of health issues in more than 180 patients.

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

SCAI urges lawmakers to improve cardiac care access for children

The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act would expand Medicaid access for pediatric patients so that it covers interventional cardiologists outside of their home states.

Medicare Advantage Part C clipboard payment

92% of rural Nebraska hospitals report financial hardship caused by Medicare Advantage plans

Members of the Nebraska Rural Health Association overwhelmingly expressed concerns that Medicare Advantage plans could jeopardize patient health. Some are considering dropping their contracts with the plans altogether. 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, alomg with FEMA and state disaster recovery agency officials, get briefed by Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe on the impacts of the Hurricane Helene flooding on the main hospital in Ashville and what they need to continue operations. The hospital is operating, but is using water from trucks because the city water treatment facilities were damaged and contaminated during flooding. Photo North Carolina Governor's Office.

Federal government moves in to support Asheville, other Helene disaster areas

Asheville's water treatment facility was heavily damaged, forcing its hospitals to operate using water brought in from trucks. 

abortion law ban pregnancy dobbs

Catholic hospital sued for refusing to perform emergency abortion on a hemorrhaging patient

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing Providence St. Joseph Hospital to discourage an incident like this from happening in the future. 

California State Capitol Sacramento

Newsom vetoes bill to regulate private equity transactions in healthcare

Assembly Bill 3129 would have given the California Attorney General oversight of all private equity investments or purchases involving a healthcare entity. Gov. Gavin Newsom argued that a similar regulatory framework is already in place. 

FDA announces recall of Pfizer's fast-tracked sickle cell drug

The drugmaker is voluntarily withdrawing Oxbryta from the market due to a higher-than-acceptable risk of death.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.