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's Griner Defends Open Payments Regulations

Dislike the Open Payments regulations (also known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act) that are part of the Affordable Care Act? In a blog post for Health Affairs, Anita Griner, deputy director of the Data Sharing and Partnership Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Center for Program Integrity, explains why the regulations are a good idea and the burden they may create on physicians and manufacturers is likely overstated.

HIMSS14, Thursday: Five things to know today

So much information. At this point in the conference, the sheer amount of information shared is overwhelming. Here are a few highlights.

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HIMSS14: Rodham Clinton thanks HIT workers

ORLANDO—Hillary Rodham Clinton thanked audience members for their work in health IT during her keynote address at the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference.

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Senators Introduce Bill to Remove 96-hour Certification Requirement for CAHs

Efforts to remove a pre-admission requirement designed to shorten Medicare patient stays at more expensive critical access hospitals (CAHs) got a boost as a bi-partisan companion bill was introduced to advance a legislative fix in the Senate alongside efforts in the House.

HIMSS14, Wednesday: Five things to know today

The halls are buzzing, educational sessions are lively and feet and backs are aching. Just another day at HIMSS14!

ONC Town Hall: 'We truly know the demands'

ORLANDO—The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT held a Town Hall meeting at the Health Information and Management Systems Society’s annual conference during which members of the office’s leadership team shared how they are working to advance the national health IT agenda.

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CMS: Further ICD-10 delay "not an option that is being considered"

ORLANDO—Will there be another delay in ICD-10 implementation? “That is not an option that is being considered,” said Matthew Albright, director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Office of E-Health Standards and Services, speaking to Clinical Innovation + Technology at the Health Information and Management Systems Society’s annual conference.

ONC Announces 2015 Edition EHR Certification Criteria

To make the government’s electronic health record standard setting process more transparent, the Office of the Nation Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced that it will begin issuing “voluntary” certification criteria on a more regular basis than it has in the past.

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.