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. 

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CVS, Walgreens and Walmart ordered to pay $650M for role in opioid epidemic

Three major pharmacy names will have to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars to two Ohio counties for their roles in the opioid epidemic, a judge has ruled.

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into law—what does it mean for healthcare?

The act is Biden’s third major piece of legislation to sign into law since the start of his term, and it accomplishes a healthcare task the Democrats have been wanting for years: enabling Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification

The new certification, based on recommendations published in Circulation, was developed to signal that a facility offers cardiac surgery and primary PCI at all times. 

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On back of Dobbs, employers add travel benefits for abortion care

Out of 305 U.S. employers surveyed, 35% said they now offer travel and lodging benefits for elective and medically necessary abortions.

coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine vaccination

CDC eases COVID-19 guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has loosened COVID-19 guidelines, citing “significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.”

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‘Sham’ health insurer ordered to refund $100M to FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cracked down on a health services provider accused of selling unqualified, sham health insurance plans through deceptive marketing and sales tactics. 

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How would the proposed 2023 MPFS impact your cardiology practice? Use this free tool to find out

The American College of Cardiology has developed a helpful calculator that allows cardiologists and practice managers to estimate just how much the proposed 2023 MPFS could impact their practice.

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Physician group asks for extension on surprise billing regulations

While MGMA recognized that the No Surprises Act “established critical patient protections against balance billing and created new cost transparency tools to help patients,” the association argued the new requirements for 2022 also carried “ significant additional administrative burdens for group practices.”

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.