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.

Health insurance coverage rates were steady in 2017

During the first full year of President Trump’s term, healthcare insurance rates remained relatively steady, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

September 13, 2018

Hospitals sue HHS over 340B price transparency

Hospital associations have launched a lawsuit that would prompt a court order to require drug companies to disclose the ceiling price for 340B drugs.

September 13, 2018

Can Trump really lower drug prices?

From taking swipes at specific drug companies on Twitter to promising to get pharmaceutical prices down “really, really substantially,” President Donald Trump has said a lot about lowering drug prices. However, many Americans aren’t buying into the rhetoric, according to a recent study.

September 13, 2018

Cigna to invest $250M through new venture capital fund

Healthcare services company Cigna has launched a $250 million venture capital fund, Cigna Ventures. The fund will focus on transformative and innovative healthcare companies, including promising startups and growth-stage companies.

September 12, 2018

Michigan, Alabama apply to implement Medicaid work requirements

Alabama and Michigan have applied for waivers from HHS to implement work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries.

September 12, 2018

Public health emergency declared in the Carolinas ahead of Hurricane Florence

The Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency in North Carolina and South Carolina ahead of the incoming Category 4 Hurricane Florence, which is expected to make landfall later this week.

September 12, 2018

AMA Awards Research Grants to Advance the Study of Women in Medicine

The AMA Women Physicians Section (WPS) and the AMA Foundation today announced the winners of the 2018 Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women research grants program.

September 12, 2018

Study: Health system margins dropped 40% after ACA

In a post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance world, health systems have seen their operating margins deteriorate, according to a new study from Navigant Consulting—and the associated increases in scale haven't helped.

September 12, 2018

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.