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.

CDC awards $26M for research on hospital ‘superbugs’

Several academic hospitals have been awarded $26 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research new ways to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), particularly those resistant to antibiotics

June 27, 2016

Patients unhappy with UnitedHealth’s limits on insulin pumps

A new deal between UnitedHealthcare and device maker Medtronic means fewer options for UnitedHealth customers who need insulin pumps to treat Type 1 diabetes.

June 27, 2016

Living organ donation can be ethical minefield

If someone is dying but could donate vital organs before life support was removed, can a spouse make someone a living donor without that person's direct consent?

June 27, 2016

State news: Calif. split on Aetna-Humana merger, N.Y. enacts opioid prescription limits

Here’s a roundup of the latest healthcare news from California, New York, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

June 24, 2016

CDC failed to disclose lab mishaps to Congress

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told Congress it left out 34 incident reports involving lab mistakes from information it provided to a congressional investigation in 2014, according to USA Today.

June 24, 2016

IT group wants interoperability standards for drug monitoring

As the House and Senate work in a conference committee on anti-opioid abuse legislation, a coalition called Health IT Now has asked lawmakers to lay out more specific standards on how different states’ prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) will be interoperable. 

June 23, 2016

House passes Zika bill opposed by White House, Senate Dems

Legislation providing $1.1 billion in funding for anti-Zika virus efforts has passed in the House, but the Obama administration and the leader of the Senate Democrats are strongly criticizing the proposal.

June 23, 2016

HHS says 90 percent of new Medicaid enrollees satisfied with healthcare under expansion

Just a day before congressional Republicans introduced a plan to replace the ACA, HHS released a study saying Medicaid expansion under the law has been beneficial to the vast majority of its users. 

June 23, 2016

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.