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.

Most doctors, even Trump supporters, oppose ACA repeal but favor changes

When it comes to repealing all of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), primary care physicians are even less supportive of the idea than their patients, according to a new survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

January 26, 2017

ACA repeal plans advance to House committees

Several key House committees have scheduled hearings regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a sign Republicans don’t plan on slowing down the repeal process now that President Donald Trump has taken office.

January 25, 2017

Tom Price’s second HHS Secretary hearing: 'Lower the temperature’ on ACA repeal debate

President Donald Trump’s selection to run HHS, US. Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Georgia, dealt with Democrats’ accusations of ducking policy questions while criticizing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), mandatory CMS programs and meaningful use of electronic health records in the second hearing on his nomination.

January 24, 2017

UAB receives $16 million grant to reduce cancer disparities

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has received a five-year, $16.6 million renewal grant from the National Cancer Institute for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Morehouse School of Medicine and Tuskegee University partnership to address cancer disparities among African-Americans.

January 23, 2017

Trump’s ACA order: What does it do? Who’s in support?

On the first day of his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order suggesting federal agencies offer as many exemptions as possible to the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s individual mandate.

January 23, 2017

7 updated guidelines for preventing surgical site infections

A surgeon from Loyola Medicine has improved the 2016 guidelines for preventing surgical site infections (SSI) for the 300,000 patients in the United States affected each year.

January 20, 2017

How the next Secretary of Agriculture can affect healthcare

While plenty of industry attention has been paid to President Donald Trump’s pick to run HHS, Georgia Rep. Tom Price, MD, another politician from the state will also have an impact on healthcare as Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture.

January 20, 2017

Auto-enrollment being discussed as part of Trump healthcare plans

While the individual mandate would be eliminated under the current plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a separate idea to keep more people in the risk pool has emerged: auto-enrollment in a “bare-bones” health plan. 

January 19, 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.