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.

FTC, DOJ and HHS release report warning of private equity consolidation in healthcare
The agencies said private equity firms are rolling up healthcare sectors through serialized purchases that fly under the radar of regulators, creating an unsustainable level of consolidation.
Report highlights flaws in FDA rapid approval of Alzheimer drug
A new report from the Office of the Inspector General found the FDA failed to properly record meetings with drug manufacturers, ultimately approving drugs later shown to have safety and efficacy issues.
FDA announces another recall for surgical devices over safety concerns—7 new injuries reported
Maquet Cardiovascular, a subsidiary of Getinge, is recalling two of its endoscopic vessel harvesting devices due to issues with different pieces bending, peeling or detaching during use. Some of the company's other EVH devices were recently involved in a separate recall for similar reasons.
Q&A: Vulnerable patients hit hardest by anesthesia reimbursement cuts
Tracy Young, CRNA, vice president at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, details the ongoing fight between providers and insurers over how anesthesiologists get paid.
Momentum continues for renal denervation as CMS considers national Medicare coverage
CMS is accepting public comments on the topic for a period of 30 days. Recor Medical and Medtronic have both shared statements in support of the potential policy shift.

Calif. payors, providers unite for ACO initiative

Blue Shield of California, Greater Newport Physicians and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian announced a three-year accountable care initiative designed to provide integrated healthcare to approximately 11,000 Blue Shield HMO members in Orange County, Calif.

February 28, 2012

2012 CMIO Compensation Survey: Those earning big bonuses, highest pay

Seventeen percent of this years CMIO Compensation Survey respondents earn a salary of $300,000 or more. Here is a closer look at said group.

February 14, 2012

Health Affairs: Colorado's bumpy road to bipartisan health insurance exchange

An article published in the February issue of Health Affairs, "Colorados Health Insurance Exchange: How One State Has So Far Forged A Bipartisan Path Through The Partisan Wilderness," details the western states experience.

February 10, 2012

AdvaMed looks beyond device-tax repeal to urge broad tax code reform

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) has come up with a set of principles on tax reform that, if enacted, would create jobs, grow the economy, develop new cures and treatments and help ensure Americas global leadership in medical technology. The group made the claim in a Feb. 7 news release.

February 9, 2012

Greenway Medical goes public

Health IT vendor Greenway Medical went public Feb. 2, offering an initial public offering will make available approximately 6.7 million shares of common stock at $10 per share. 

February 3, 2012

Leavitt Partners creates panel of health IT leaders

Leavitt Partners has created FuturePanel, a group of healthcare thought leaders to inform, refine and guide the healthcare intelligence shared by the Salt Lake City-based firm.

January 31, 2012

2012 CMIO Compensation Survey: A look at multi-hospital organization CMIOs

The results are in from the 2012 CMIO Compensation Survey. Were bringing you several articles with more facts and figures from this year's results. First up: CMIOs who work at a multi-hospital organization/integrated delivery network.

January 31, 2012

Survey: EU hospitals spent $3.2B on IT in 2010

Hospitals in western European countries spent $3.2 billion on health IT in 2010, and the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industry (COCIR) estimated that spending will grow to $3.5 billion annually by 2015, based on results of a survey conducted by the Brussels-based nonprofit trade association.

January 17, 2012

Around the web

AI in Healthcare

4 ways HHS plans to help shape a national strategy for healthcare AI

HHS has thought through the ways AI can and should become an integral part of healthcare, human services and public health. Last Friday—possibly just days ahead of seating a new secretary—the agency released a detailed plan for getting there from here.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA announces recall after Philips heart monitor software failed to send alerts—multiple deaths reported

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries.

Cardiovascular Business

Why electrophysiologists needed a champion in Washington

Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, detailed a new advocacy group focused on improving EP reimbursements, patient care and access. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu," he said.

Policy & Regulations

FTC, DOJ and HHS release report warning of private equity consolidation in healthcare

Report highlights flaws in FDA rapid approval of Alzheimer drug

FDA announces another recall for surgical devices over safety concerns—7 new injuries reported

Q&A: Vulnerable patients hit hardest by anesthesia reimbursement cuts

Momentum continues for renal denervation as CMS considers national Medicare coverage

Around the web