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.

‘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
The incident happened three years ago when Anthony Hoover was declared brain-dead on his medical record, only to wake up on the operating room table moments before his organs were harvested. The incident 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.
FDA clears AI tool that flags signs of heart disease in chest CT scans
The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer.
Stewardship Health sale to private equity finalized for $245M
The physician group, once part of Steward Health Care, has been rebranded as Revere Medical.

MedPAC votes to recommend repealing MIPS

Following up on criticisms of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) at recent meetings, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) formally voted to recommend scrapping the payment system, arguing the program replicates flaws from those it was meant to replace.

January 11, 2018

CMS push for Medicaid work requirements likely to be challenged in court

CMS has released guidance for how states can seek Medicaid waivers imposing requirements for beneficiaries to work in order to receive coverage, a move which some healthcare groups quickly condemned and threatened to sue in order to stop.

January 11, 2018

How the Trump administration planned to change the ACA

A never-before-released document shows the extent of plans within HHS and the Trump administration to alter the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through executive and regulatory action, many of which have since been enacted.

January 11, 2018

Humana leaves AHIP

Humana has terminated its membership in America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the largest lobbying group for the health insurance industry, following the departures of other major insurers in recent years. 

January 11, 2018

CDC recommends using ‘Obamacare’ over ‘ACA’

Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), again denied the agency has banned words such as “fetus,” “science-based” and “transgender” from official documents in a letter to Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, but did reveal the style guide used by HHS recommends avoiding certain words and substituting others.

January 10, 2018

Maryland considers individual mandate replacement

State lawmakers in Maryland have proposed an alternative means to encourage people to maintain health insurance following the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate through the Republican-supported tax cut legislation.

January 9, 2018

HHS nominee Alex Azar supports mandatory CMMI models

Former Eli Lilly executive Alex Azar faced another grilling before members of Congress, being questioned by the Senate Finance Committee, which will decide whether to advance his nomination to the full Senate. The hearing highlighted one major difference between Azar and former HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, when it came to mandatory payment models.

January 9, 2018

CBO: Repeal of individual mandate lowers cost for CHIP renewal

Extending the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will cost the federal government $7.5 billion less than previously estimated because other options have become more expensive after the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. 

January 8, 2018

Around the web

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.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA’s tirzepatide decision creates uncertainty for patients—and leads to a lawsuit

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country.

Policy & Regulations

‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

Kentucky AG launches criminal probe after conscious man nearly has organs harvested

FDA announces Class I recall of ventilators after 3 patient injuries

FDA clears AI tool that flags signs of heart disease in chest CT scans

Stewardship Health sale to private equity finalized for $245M

Around the web