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.

Private equity transactions in healthcare down 15% since 2023, report finds
However, an analysis from research firm PitchBook suggests a rebound could be on the horizon, as investors shift their gaze to specialty care services.
Payment cuts and beyond: Key takeaways for cardiologists from the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
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.
A modest proposal to rally AI regulators around a simple game plan
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.”
FDA set to ban certain over-the-counter cold medications
Oral decongestants containing phenylephrine were found not to be effective. However, nasal sprays of the same drug are not subject to the FDA’s proposed order.
FDA commissioner urges clinicians to join fight against medical misinformation
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."

Florida hospitals asked to detail executive pay info to lawmakers

The Florida House of Representatives is asking the state’s hospitals for “extensive financial data,” according to the Tampa Bay Times, as the chamber considers a state budget with nearly $600 million in cuts affecting those facilities. 

April 7, 2017

Without subsidies, insurers would need 19% premium hike for ACA plans

The average monthly premium for a benchmark silver-level plan on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplace would need to be increased by 19 percent to compensate for lost cost-sharing subsides if the program isn’t funded by the Republican-controlled Congress for 2018.

April 6, 2017

Hospitals’ policy priorities beyond ACA repeal

While the debate over repealing, replacing or repairing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is dominating discussion of healthcare policy in Washington these days, the American Hospital Association (AHA) has several other items on its advocacy agenda for 2017. 

April 5, 2017

Poll: Trump should ‘do what he can’ to make ACA work

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll found the majority of Americans—including a slim majority of Republicans—feel that after the failure of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the administration of President Donald Trump should do what it can to make the Affordable Care Act (ACA) work.

April 5, 2017

Industry unhappy with latest ACA repeal talks: ‘Making a bad bill worse’

A late night meeting on April 4 between Republicans in Congress and Vice President Mike Pence didn’t result in any new legislative agreement on an alternative to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The potential changes which have leaked out, however, aren’t pleasing healthcare industry officials.

April 5, 2017

AHA urges Congress to provide resources to investigate, prevent cyber attacks

The AHA today urged Congress to provide law enforcement and other appropriate agencies with the resources to investigate cyber attacks and proactively prevent them.

April 4, 2017

Former Siemens CMO Donald Rucker to lead ONC

According to a recent string of tweets, Donald Rucker, who served as CMO of Siemens Healthcare for 13 years, will head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

March 31, 2017

ACA subsidies could go to off-exchange insurers under Republican legislation

If a county finds itself with no participating insurers in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges in 2018, customers would be allowed to use federal subsidies on insurance outside that marketplace under a bill introduced by Tennessee’s two Republican Senators. 

March 30, 2017

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Payment cuts and beyond: Key takeaways for cardiologists from the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

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.

AI in Healthcare

A modest proposal to rally AI regulators around a simple game plan

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.”

Cardiovascular Business

FDA commissioner urges clinicians to join fight against medical misinformation

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."