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.

Medicare's policy not to pay for HACs appears to be working

Medicare's policy not to pay for the treatment of hospital-acquired infections appears to be making an impact, according to Medscape.   

January 8, 2015

Harvard feels consequences of own ideas on healthcare reform

Harvard faculty are in an uproar over rising healthcare costs, even as the school's very own economists and health policy advisors had championed heathcare reform efforts, reports The New York Times. 

January 6, 2015

Accenture wins $563M federal contract

Accenture Federal Services has won a five-year, $563 million contract to continue its work on Healthcare.gov, reports Clinical Innovation + Technology.

January 6, 2015

HHS awards $665M to test new delivery models

The Department of Health & Human Services is awarding more than $665 million in Affordable Care Act monies to design and test healthcare payment and service delivery models. 

December 17, 2014

Meaningful Use Stage 2 attestations remain lackluster

Data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the Health IT Policy Committee reveal only marginal gains in the numbers of eligible professionals and hospitals attesting to Meaningful Use Stage 2, reports Clinical Innovation + Technology.

December 10, 2014

Federal Health IT Strategic Plan unveiled

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has published the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2015-2020, updating the original 2011 version, reports Clinical Innovation + Technology. 

December 8, 2014

Federal contractors finding work in healthcare, not war

Diminishing wars and a drop in defense spending are spurring federal contractors to expand their businesses related to healthcare, reports The Washington Post. 

December 6, 2014

Hearings scheduled to consider single-payer healthcare in N.Y.

Six public hearings are scheduled to explore state legislation that would establish single-payer health insurance throughout New York, reports Ithaca Journal. 

December 4, 2014

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.