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.

South Carolina hospitals check off 'reduce post-surgical deaths' with safety checklist

Having a checklist for chores or exercise goals help in lining up what needs to be completed and the same should go for safety in hospitals. A recent study, set to be published in August in the Annals of Surgery, found that having a safety checklist program implemented in hospitals in South Carolina reduced post-surgical deaths by 22 percent. 

April 17, 2017

Hospitals give mixed reaction to IPPS proposed rule despite $3.1B boost

CMS released the 2018 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule on April 14, promising “transparency, flexibility, program simplification and innovation to transform the Medicare program” in the first IPPS rule under a new CMS and HHS administration.

April 17, 2017

HHS Secretary wants physicians’ ideas for new payment models

HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, is encouraging physicians to submit more suggestions on new Medicare payment models to move away from fee-for-service payments.

April 14, 2017

5 things to know about the final ACA marketplace rule for 2018

CMS has issued its final rule aimed at stabilizing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance exchanges, checking many items off insurers’ wish lists while leaving the most pressing issue—whether cost-sharing reduction subsidies will be funded—unsettled as insurers decided whether to participate in the individual market next year.

April 14, 2017

Trump puts healthcare back on top of his agenda

When his first push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) failed to garner enough support, President Donald Trump initially said he would move onto other issues, namely changes to the tax code. He appears to have changed his mind in an interview on the Fox Business Network. 

April 12, 2017

HHS: Cost-sharing subsidies in ACA will be funded

Subsidies to health insurers offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will continue to be funded, HHS told the New York Times, even though House Republicans had made the argument in court the payments were illegal. 

April 11, 2017

ACA critic, Minnesota health economist Stephen Parente appointed to leadership post at HHS

Stephen Parente, PhD, MPH, MS, brings a long resume as a health economist and policy expert. He’s spent the last 17 years at the University of Minnesota, currently holding the title of Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance in the Carlson School of Management and director of the school’s Medical Industry Leadership Institute.

April 10, 2017

FDA approves two hepatitis C drugs for pediatric patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir) for the treatment of hepatitis C in pediatric patients, ages 12 to 17.

April 7, 2017

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.