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.

Texas hospital co-founder pleads guilty in $200M kickback scheme

Alan Andrew Beauchamp, Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center’s co-founder and former manager, pleaded guilty in a $200 million healthcare fraud case. Beauchamp recruited high-volume specialty doctors and paid them $40 million in bribes and kickbacks to perform surgeries.

July 30, 2018

GSK, 23andMe reach 4-year, $300M deal for sharing of genetic data

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced a four-year, $300 million deal with 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California. The British pharmaceutical company will have access to genetic information of 23andMe’s five million customers.

July 30, 2018

CMS releases plan to streamline Medicare reimbursement

CMS released its plan to reduce paperwork and improve patient care on Friday, July 27, that could have implications for 40 percent of Medicare payments. The plan combines four levels of paperwork and four levels of reimbursement to be combined in a single form and one flat fee for each physician appointment.

July 27, 2018

Trump administration still backs Medicaid work requirements after Kentucky setback

Despite hitting a bump in the road with Medicaid work requirements in Kentucky, the Trump administration will continue to approve applications from other states. HHS Secretary Alex Azar, in a speech to the Heritage Foundation on Thursday, July 26, reiterated a commitment to establishing such requirements for able-bodied people who receive Medicaid.

July 27, 2018

Can a fear of lawsuits lead providers to more ‘intense’ care?

Eight years ago, Tom Price, MD, warned how “defensive medicine” drove healthcare costs, estimating 26 cents of every dollar went to unnecessary tests to protect physicians and hospitals from malpractice suits. The estimate wasn’t taken seriously back then, but researchers are now offering an estimate that 5 percent of costs can be attributed to such practices.

July 26, 2018

CMS announces rule to restart risk-adjustment payments

On Tuesday, July 24, CMS released a new rule that will allow risk-adjustment payments, which were halted July 7 and threatened to destabilize health insurance marketplaces by keeping billions of dollars from insurers.

July 25, 2018

House votes to permanently repeal 2.3% medical device tax

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the 2.3 percent medical device tax that was implemented as part of the Affordable Care Act. The House voted 283 to 132, with 57 Democrats joining Republicans.

July 25, 2018

Americans remain skeptical of Trump’s ability to lower drug prices

A new report co-commissioned by Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, delved deeper into Americans’ outlook regarding the Trump administration’s policies to address prescription drug prices. Though President Donald Trump has called this one of his “greatest priorities,” poll numbers show the country is skeptical.

July 24, 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.