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. 

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CMS cuts funding for marketplace navigators for 2nd consecutive year

CMS announced it will award $10 million to the Navigator Program starting in the fall of 2018—representing a sharp decrease from $63 million in 2016.

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Pfizer backs down on drug price increases, announces split into three businesses

Following attacks by President Trump on Twitter, drugmaker Pfizer backed down on its previously announced plan to raise drug prices on a number of prescriptions. Pfizer also announced Wednesday it will reorganize into three businesses, effective in 2019.

Amazon’s OTC business offers pills at steep discount

Retail giant Amazon is selling over-the-counter (OTC) medicines at lower prices than its brick-and-mortar competitors.

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Trump’s Supreme Court nominee could face questions on healthcare record

Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and a D.C. Appeals Court judge, will likely face questions on his healthcare record during confirmation hearings.

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CMS will allow participants to withdraw from new bundles in March 2019

CMS has announced participants in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced model will be able to retroactively withdraw beginning in March 2019.

Trump attacks Pfizer after drug price increase

President Donald Trump lashed out at drug manufacturer Pfizer after the company raised prices for 100 drugs by an average of 9 percent, effective July 1.

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Arizona law intended to limit opioid prescriptions may hurt chronic pain patients

States are desperate to act in the national opioid epidemic, but laws limiting opioid prescriptions and doses are negatively impacting chronic pain patients and leaving doctors conflicted about care delivery, NPR reported.

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Trump administration halts ACA risk adjustment payments, potentially upending insurance markets

On July 7, CMS announced it will stop making risk adjustment payments, which were designed as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help insurers that accept more high-cost patients avoid major losses.

Around the web

The FTC alleges that pharmacy benefit managers have set up a system where they get rich, while patients are forced to pay rising insulin costs. The agency also called out drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk, saying their own actions have raised serious concerns.

In the post-COVID era, wages for permanent RNs are rising, and wages for travelers are decreasing. A new report tracked these trends and more. 

Two medical device companies have announced a transaction that could shake up the U.S. electrophysiology market. 

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