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. 

Jason Wasfy, MD, associate professor at the Harvard Medical School and director of quality and outcomes research, Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, spoke at the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting in the business of cardiology sessions about the current and future models of value based payments.

Value-based care gives cardiology practices an opportunity to thrive

Value-based payments can impact cardiology practices in many ways, helping cardiologists acquire new technology and boost patient care.

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Cybersecurity incident reporting rule would exclude insurers, vendors

Hospitals and provider groups have responded with confusion to a rule proposed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency requiring hospitals and providers to comply with stringent reporting requirements that overlap with HIPAA.

Healthcare growth slows, but June adds 49,000 new jobs

For the last year, the average monthly growth has been 64,000 new jobs. However, healthcare continues to outpace most other sectors of the economy.

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Optum settles improper opioid prescription accusations for $20M

The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary has not admitted any wrongdoing but said it has improved protocols for monitoring controlled substances.

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AMA: Examining a doctors’ health data can help detect burnout

More than 50% of physicians reported feeling burned out, leading to large numbers retiring or changing jobs The AMA now wants to look at healthcare worker medical records to help identify workplace stressors and how to improve well-being.

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Tracking private equity: Cardiologist, CEO share perspective on acquisition trends

The ongoing rise of private equity continues to be one of the biggest topics in modern healthcare. 

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Inmates in five states, including minors, to be granted Medicaid coverage

Inmates in Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Vermont will be granted access to patient care services, including behavioral health and drug abuse interventions.

AMA will aggressively support permanent telemedicine reimbursement

The American Medical Association said it will lobby for an indefinite extension of Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services, fighting a Dec. 31, 2024, sunset date.

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.