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.

HHS Secretary Price encourages states to use ACA waivers for reinsurance, high-risk pools

While supporting the current proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, encouraged states to submit more “innovation waivers” as allowed under the ACA to form their own reinsurance programs and fund pools to cover high-cost patients.

March 13, 2017

‘Patients before politics': AMA launches site focused on ACA repeal debate

After coming out in opposition to the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican-sponsored plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the American Medical Association (AMA) is stepping up efforts to get physicians involved in the legislative conversation through a new website.

March 13, 2017

Anthem supports ACA replacement legislation

The second-largest health insurer in the U.S., Anthem, has come out in support of provisions in the Republican-sponsored replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), going against the opposition expressed by the American Medical Association (AMA) and concerns from its own industry group. 

March 13, 2017

The potential impact of the Republican ACA replacement

Health policy analyses predict 15 million people could lose their health coverage and 30 million could be subject to surcharges on top of premiums if the Republican-sponsored American Health Care Act (AHCA) goes into effect.

March 10, 2017

ACA replacement plan advances without changes after marathon hearing

It took until the wee hours of the morning, but Republicans advanced part of their replacement legislation for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without making any changes to the original bill in the House Ways and Means Committee.

March 9, 2017

Conservatives plan their own ACA replacement bill

Objecting to the American Health Care Act (ACHA) introduced by Republican leaders in the House, conservative lawmakers have pledged to introduce their own alternative to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

March 8, 2017

‘Critically flawed’: Industry groups blast Republican ACA replacement

The initial reaction to the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced by Republican leaders in Congress and supported by President Donald Trump, is negative across several major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the Federation of American Hospitals. 

March 8, 2017

5 things hospitals, insurers should know about Republicans' ACA replacement

House Republicans have released the full text of the long-awaited legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Titled the “American Health Care Act (AHCA),” the bill would eliminate the ACA’s mandate for individuals to buy insurance and roll back the expansion of Medicaid, while restoring disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments.

March 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.