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.

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.
Walmart workers sue over tobacco fees levied for health plan trust
The class action lawsuit argues employees cannot escape the fees even after they stop using tobacco, a violation of labor regulations.
HHS awards $75M for addiction and maternal health services in rural areas
The funds will be used to expand services and improve the financial stability of existing healthcare organizations located in underserved regions of the South.

UCSF envisions new hospital after $500M donation

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) received a $500 million commitment from the Helen Diller Foundation to help plan and build a new hospital, according to a Feb. 8 release from the university.

February 12, 2018

5 questions about healthcare ahead of Trump budget proposal

President Donald Trump is expected to release a budget proposal Monday, Feb. 12. This move is more of a wish list from the chief executive, because Congress controls federal spending, but the budget can convey priorities and policy ideas.

February 12, 2018

CVS CEO: 'We're going to deliver' on what Amazon-JPMorgan-Berkshire deal aspires to do

CVS Health president and CEO Larry Merlo downplayed the threat to its pending $69 billion acquisition of Aetna from the recently announced healthcare partnership between Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway, saying “what that group aspires to is what we're going to deliver.”

February 9, 2018

Budget deal delays DSH cuts, repeals ACA panel, changes MIPS cost component

The second federal government shutdown of 2018 lasted only six hours, but the budget deal that ended it will have an impact on the healthcare industry for years to come through changes to Medicare payments, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and repealing one of the most controversial parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

February 9, 2018

Humana will consolidate primary care clinics into new company

During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard said several subsidiaries running primary care clinic will be merged into one as the insurer becomes more involved in clinical care.

February 8, 2018

Newly renamed Atrium Health to merge with Georgia’s Navicent

Just one day after announcing a name change from Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Atrium Health has signed a letter of intent to merge with another system, Navicent Health, based in Macon, Georgia.

February 8, 2018

What is—and isn’t—an Advanced APM in 2018

CMS has outlined which alternative payment models (APMs) qualify as Advanced APM under the Quality Payment Program (QPP) this year, thus giving participating providers a 5 percent payment bonus.

February 7, 2018

Georgia continues as a M&A hotspot with 4 combinations completed or near finished

2018 hasn’t seen a slowdown in mergers and acquisitions among hospitals and health systems in Georgia, with four major combinations now pending or recently completed across the state.

February 7, 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.