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. 

NJ plans for new ACO

A new accountable care organization is slated to go live on Sept. 1 in New Jersey.

WEDI, ASC issue ICD-10 prep brief

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) released an ICD-10 issue brief co-written with ASC X12 to help the healthcare industry better undertand where to focus transaction testing to ensure that coes are correctly placed and formatted within the transactions.

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Mostashari leaving ONC post

For yet another week, the federal government hasn’t slowed down its health IT-related activity and, in fact, created unexpected news with the stunning announcement that Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, will step down this fall as head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT after two years in the position.

Who should fill ONC chief position?

Now that Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, has made the decision to step down as national coordinator of health IT, who is best qualified to fill the role next?

Mostashari to step down

Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, will step down this fall as head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT after two years in the position.

Readmission penalties to double

The number of hospitals facing financial penalties for hospital readmissions deemed unnecessary within 30 days will remain steady next year but the punishment will double.

Is converging clinical, administrative data a good idea?

There has been much discussion about the convergence and interoperability of administrative and clinical data and transactions but is it truly worthwhile? That was the big question during a panel discussion at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ eHealth Summit on Aug. 2.

Dems call on Obama to set target for healthcare cost savings

Four Democratic senators sent a letter to the Obama Administration calling on the president to set a specific cost-savings target to help focus federal efforts and to give the general public a clearer sense of the savings potential.

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.