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. 

Medicaid benefits could be cut if work requirements aren't fixed, implemented quickly

On Friday, a federal judge denied Kentucky’s move to impose work requirements on some Medicaid recipients. Now, one Kentucky official claims benefits will be cut if this policy isn't fixed and implemented quickly.

Thumbnail

Kentucky Medicaid work requirements shot down by federal judge

Kentucky was set to become the first state in the U.S. to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. But a federal judge blocked the move, which was set to take effect on Sunday—claiming the Trump administration didn’t properly consider the policy’s effect on the program’s intended aim to provide medical coverage to at-risk populations.

9 accused of submitting $950M in fraudulent health insurance claims

Federal prosecutors in California announced charges against nine individuals—including orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors and a C-suite executive—for allegedly running a 15-year scheme that submitted nearly $1 billion in fraudulent health insurance claims to the federal government, California and private insurers.

Thumbnail

Healthcare top priority for 25% of voters; 66% back protections for pre-existing conditions

Just over four months away from the 2018 midterm elections, healthcare promises to be a major topic of discussion as campaigns head toward the finish line. According to a recent poll, 25 percent of registered voters said healthcare was the No. 1 issue for this election cycle.

Medicare spending hits $702B in 2017, will top $1T in 2026

The Kaiser Family Foundation released an issue brief June 22 that projected total Medicare spending to top $1 trillion by 2026, up from a total of $702 billion last year, according to Congressional Budget Office and CMS data.

Thumbnail

ACA marketplaces remain unstable—but insurers see profit potential

Prices continue to climb on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, with some estimates calling for 30 percent increases to typical silver-level plans in 2019. But despite the additional challenges faced by individuals on the marketplaces, insurers see clear skies ahead.

Thumbnail

House overwhelmingly passes anti-opioid legislation

In a 396-14 vote, the House of Representatives passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, or H.R. 6—bipartisan opioid legislation that aims to curb drug abuse.

Thumbnail

Kaiser: 10M US citizen minors with undocumented parents may face challenges accessing healthcare

While debates about immigration—and the controversial approach to separating families at the southwestern border of the U.S.—dominate the news, advocates warn that children may be at risk for losing healthcare coverage through Medicaid, according to a recent report from Kaiser Health News.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”