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. 

CBO significantly lowers estimate for health insurance coverage

The Congressional Budget Office has reduced its estimate of the cost for providing health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, reports The New York Times. 

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White House makes major push for value-based payments

The Obama administration has announced a major goal to tie half of all Medicare payments to quality of care by 2018, reports The Washington Post. 

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Obama’s SOTU address highlights ACA, new individualized medicine initiative

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama described the Affordable Care Act as part of the fabric of middle-class economic recovery as he spoke to a Republican-controlled Congress still working to dismantle the law, reports Clinical Innovation + Technology.

Healthcare an important topic in Obama's SOTU address

Healthcare was a major part of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. He described the Affordable Care Act as part of the fabric of middle-class economic recovery as he spoke to a Republican-controlled Congress still working to dismantle the law.

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MedPAC seeks to freeze reimbursements

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has approved recommendations to Congress to either freeze reimbursements or make them site neutral, which would save Medicare billions of dollars, according to Modern Healthcare.  

FDA guidance offers clarity on wellness products

The FDA has released a draft guidance offering some clarity on how it defines a low-risk product: A general wellness product becomes a medical device when it refers to its use for a specific disease or condition, according to Medcity News. 

Tavenner to step down

Marilyn Tavenner, top administrator for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has announced plans to step down in February, reports Wall Street Journal. 

Tavenner to step down at end of February

Marilyn Tavenner, top administrator for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has announced that she is stepping down from her position at the end of February.

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.