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. 

FDA seeking comment on blood donation restrictions for gay men

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is formally asking for comments on whether it should change its policy of only allowing gay men to donate blood after they’ve been abstinent for one year.

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43 states given ‘F’ grades on health price transparency report card

According to an annual report card released by the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute and Catalyst for Payment Reform, the vast majority of states aren’t meeting the groups’ minimum standards for providing consumers with easily accessible information on the prices of healthcare services.

Study: More than half of adults misuse their prescriptions

A majority of adults drug tested by Quest Diagnostics in 2015 were misusing their prescription drugs, according to a new study of patient results released by the clinical laboratory services company.

CDC expands Zika blood testing period for pregnant women to 14 days

Updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructs physicians to test pregnant women for Zika up to 14 days after symptoms begin. It also adds new recommendations based on the first documented female-to-male transmission of the virus.

Florida providers going to trial in $360 million antitrust case against HealthFirst

Several healthcare providers and physicians in Florida are planning on going to trial with integrated system HealthFirst, seeking more than $360 million in damages for alleged antitrust violations.

Study: ACA cut hospital charity care, stabilized bad debt expenses

An analysis of CMS data by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said hospitals spent less on charity care and unrecoverable debt once the Affordable Care Act was implemented.

New FDA draft guidance seeks to clarify UDI forms

A new draft guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeks to clarify how Unique Device Identifiers (UDIs) are included on medical devices.

Stolen laptop costs the University of Mississippi Medical Center $2.75 million

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reached a settlement of $2.75 million with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson concerning the matter of a missing laptop.

Around the web

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses some of the biggest obstacles facing the specialty in the new year. 

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

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.