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. 

Demographics of patients shift as Federally Qualified Health Centers expand

In a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine, it was found that the demographics of patients seen at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2005 and 2014 have shifted to where the population of young, low-income, uninsured or Medicaid-insured, racial and ethnic minority Americans increased more rapidly than other demographic groups.

VA accused of shredding documents needed to process healthcare claims for waiting veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been regularly shredding thousands of documents related to veterans' claims, possibly including those needed to treat and fulfill benefits for veterans, according to an investigation by the inspector general. 

Could the Next Gen ACO model from CMS be the best available?

The Next Generation ACO model from the CMS Innovation Center has attracted increased interest among provider organizations, mostly because its deal terms are thought to be the best in the market.

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CMS drops two-midnight rule's inpatient payment cuts

Following industry criticism and legal challenges, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer enforce an inpatient payment cut to hospitals under the two-midnight rule. Instead it will provide a onetime bump to hospitals to offset the cuts.

Medical Administrative Professionals, LLC Engages Zotec Partners in Exclusive New Revenue Cycle Management Agreement

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zotec Partners (Zotec), the industry leader in radiology revenue cycle and practice management services, announces an exclusive revenue cycle management (RCM) agreement with Medical Administrative Professionals, LLC (MAP), the management services organization of Denver-based Diversified Radiology of Colorado, PC (DRC). DRC is a 55-radiologist practice that has undertaken billing in-house for several decades. In the new arrangement, MAP will employ Zotec’s RCM expertise, services and analytical tools to monitor data and contribute to the growth of the radiology practice.

South Dakota researchers aim to improve tobacco-free policies in healthcare facilities

Research from South Dakota State University has shown that healthcare facilities vary wildly in their efforts to maintain a tobacco-free environment.

60 senators urge CMS to delay overall hospital quality star ratings

In wake of the April 21 release of the overall hospital quality star ratings system developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), sixty senators have advised a delay “to provide the necessary time to more closely examine the star rating methodology, analyze its impact on different types of hospitals, and provide more transparent information regarding the calculation of the ratings to determine accuracy.”

Oklahoma hospital administrators push for raise in tobacco tax

Administrators from hospitals and nursing homes in Oklahoma have shared their support for increasing the state’s tobacco tax by $1.50 per pack of cigarettes to help. 

Around the web

Boston Scientific has announced another significant M&A deal, scooping up an Israeli medtech company focused on RDN technology. 

Harvard’s David A. Rosman, MD, MBA, explains how moving imaging outside of hospitals could save billions of dollars for U.S. healthcare.

The recall comes after approximately 3% of patients treated with the device during the early stages of its U.S. rollout experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack following surgery. The expected stroke rate is closer to 1%, the FDA explained.