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. 

CMS aims to reduce physician burden ahead of final MACRA rule

Ahead of the release of the final rule overhauling Medicare reimbursement, CMS has announced a permanent initiative to reduce the burden of administrative work on physicians.

Maine could expand Medicaid in statewide vote

Medicaid could be expanded in Maine via a unique method: a statewide ballot referendum. 

FIRE AND ICE Analysis: Lower Healthcare System Costs with Medtronic Cryoballoon

DUBLIN AND SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA - Oct. 13, 2016 - Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today unveiled new health economic analysis data from the FIRE AND ICE trial that favor cryoballoon catheter ablation over radiofrequency (RF) ablation related to trial period cost savings as a result of fewer cardiovascular (CV) rehospitalizations and repeat ablations. The data were presented at a late-breaking clinical trial session at the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society's Scientific Sessions in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Why preventive care guidelines shouldn’t be tied to insurance coverage

Recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) shouldn’t be tied to insurance coverage, according to the physicians who helped craft those guidelines.

How one physician-legislator is trying to retain doctors in his home state

Unfriendly malpractice laws and a high cost-of-living are driving physicians away from Connecticut, according to State Rep. Prasad Srinivasin. And he should know, since he’s a physician himself.

Not just for opioids: Why PDMPs should cover all medications

Rather than use prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) only to track opioid prescriptions, two physicians writing in the American Journal of Managed Care suggested the concept be expanded to collect and report information on all prescriptions.

Multitude of healthcare groups ask Congress for a national patient identifier

Healthcare groups including HIMSS, AMIA and CHIME have written a letter to members of Congress asking for a national patient identifier to increase patient safety and the electronic exchange of data.

Mylan to pay $465 million to settle claims of overcharging CMS on EpiPens

Mylan, the manufacturer of EpiPen, will pay $465 million to the federal government to “resolve questions” about whether the autoinjector was misclassified as a generic drug, therefore reducing the quarterly rebates Mylan owed.

Around the web

Stryker, a global medtech company based out of Michigan, has kicked off 2025 with a bit of excitement. The company says Inari’s peripheral vascular portfolio is highly complementary to its own neurovascular portfolio.

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Mark Isenberg, executive vice president of Zotec Partners, discusses key developments that will reshape the specialty this year.