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.

Catholic hospital sued for refusing to perform emergency abortion on a hemorrhaging patient
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing Providence St. Joseph Hospital to discourage an incident like this from happening in the future.
Newsom vetoes bill to regulate private equity transactions in healthcare
Assembly Bill 3129 would have given the California Attorney General oversight of all private equity investments or purchases involving a healthcare entity. Gov. Gavin Newsom argued that a similar regulatory framework is already in place.
FDA announces recall of Pfizer's fast-tracked sickle cell drug
The drugmaker is voluntarily withdrawing Oxbryta from the market due to a higher-than-acceptable risk of death.
Public health coalition wins lawsuit against EPA for lack of fluoride oversight
A federal judge in California ruled existing evidence of the negative effects of fluoride in drinking water warrants an investigation and potential action from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data
If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation.

Consumers agree insurers are to blame for surprise billing

As surprise billing solutions are more readily being talked about in Congress and among healthcare leaders in the industry, Americans are blaming their insurance companies for the problem, according to a recent survey from Morning Consult and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

June 26, 2019

International drug pricing index plan sent to White House

HHS has sent its proposal to base certain drug prices on an international index to the White House last week, according to a report from The Hill.

June 25, 2019

Drugmakers to merge in $63B deal

Two major, global pharmaceutical companies ––AbbVie and Allergan––are merging in a deal worth approximately $63 billion.

June 25, 2019

Trump order will require hospitals, insurers to disclose prices

President Trump's new executive order will enable HHS to require hospitals and insurers to disclose negotiated rates for healthcare services and give patients their out-of-pocket costs before their procedures, according to CNBC.

June 24, 2019

Medicaid work requirements aren’t boosting employment in Arkansas

Arkansas, the first state to implement work requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries, isn’t seeing the promised benefit of increased employment as a result of the new rules, according to a recent report from The Commonwealth Fund.

June 24, 2019

Repeal of ACA would leave 20M more uninsured

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would have serious, immediate consequences, according to the Urban Institute, including 20 million more uninsured people.

June 21, 2019

WSJ: Trump to draw executive order on healthcare prices

President Trump is planning to issue an executive order that will “compel the disclosure” of healthcare prices, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.

June 21, 2019

Not-for-profit hospitals act like corporate titans but don’t pay taxes

Not-for-profit hospitals don’t pay taxes, but many of them act like Fortune 500 companies, taking on operations that mimic corporate giants.

June 21, 2019

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation.

Cardiovascular Business

Watchdog group, fearful of fraud, wants more oversight for remote patient monitoring

Cardiologists and other physicians may soon need to provide much more information when ordering remote patient monitoring for Medicare patients.

Cardiovascular Business

Most recalled cardiovascular devices gained FDA approval with little to no clinical evidence

Why are so many cardiovascular devices involved in Class I recalls? One possible reason could be the large number of devices hitting the market without undergoing much premarket clinical testing.