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 sues PBMs and GPOs for insulin price collusion
In a statement announcing its lawsuit, the FTC said Caremark, Optum RX and Express Scripts benefit from manufacturer rebates and ignore lower-costing drugs as a way to artificially increase prices.
FTC sues drug middlemen over insulin prices, puts others on notice
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.
Study ranks US health system dead last among wealthy nations
Low rankings for accessibility and outcomes earned the country the overall lowest ranking in an analysis of healthcare systems across 10 nations.
Landmark opioid trial in Baltimore set to begin; Johnson & Johnson settles to avoid jury
Six companies have settled with the city for as total of over $402M. Two remaining defendants, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, will test their luck in court.
Coalition of 86 healthcare groups calls for change to Affordable Care Act rule
In a letter to Congress, the groups are urging lawmakers to support HR 9001 and lift the ban on physician-run hospitals.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has declared climate change as a major healthcare emergency. Sunrises and sunsets have become increasingly red in recent years with additional particulate matter in the atmosphere from larger, massive wild fires. Photo by Dave Fornell

VIDEO: AMA says climate change is a public health emergency

Alexander Ding, MD, chair of the AMA Council on Science and Public Health, discusses a new AMA policy calling climate change a healthcare crisis and outlines the need for action to mitigate its impact on public health.

June 20, 2022

Frank Dowling, MD, a member of the New York Medical Association delegation, addresses the AMA House of Delegates, explaining the need for new disinformation policy. #AMA #AMAmtg #AMA175

AMA fights back against COVID-19 disinformation spread by clinicians

This new policy calls for partnerships with other professional healthcare societies to call out false information.

June 17, 2022

AMA Board of Trustees member Scott Ferguson, MD, a diagnostic radiologist, offers comment during the discussion on one of several policies to further curb gun violence. #AMA #AMAmtg #AMA175

AMA calls gun violence a healthcare crisis, adopting several new policies

The American Medical Association voted this week to adopt several new policies related to address gun violence during the AMA’s House of Delegates 2022 annual meeting in Chicago.

June 17, 2022

Jack S. Resneck Jr., MD, was inaugurated this week as the 177th president of the American Medical Association (AMA). Resneck is a dermatologist, professor and vice-chair of the Department of Dermatology at UC San Francisco, June 14, 2022. #AMA #AMAmtg #AMA175

UCSF dermatologist inaugurated as new AMA president

Jack Resneck Jr., MD, was inaugurated this week as the 177th president of the AMA and pledged to fight injustices against both patients and physicians.

June 17, 2022

American Medical Association President Gerald Harmon, MD, explains some of the hottest topics discussed at the 2022 AMA House of Delegates meeting in Chicago. Harmon, a retired Air Force general and family practice specialist, said the top polices adopted where those that addressed gun control, physician burn out and issues regarding scope creep where non-physicians are filling roles traditionally held by doctors. #AMAmtg #AMA175 #AMA #guncontrol

VIDEO: AMA president discusses gun control, physician burnout and scope creep

American Medical Association President Gerald Harmon, MD, joined us for an exclusive chat about some of the hottest topics discussed at the 2022 AMA House of Delegates meeting.

June 16, 2022

AMA declares climate change a public health crisis

The AMA says there will be numerous major public health impacts if global temperatures continue to rise, adopting three new policies to address this ongoing trend.

June 16, 2022

Hospitals claim victory in Supreme Court Medicare payment decision

The court case stems from HHS’ 2018 final rule establishing separate reimbursement rates for hospitals that serve low-income or rural populations through the 340B program and all other hospitals.

June 15, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY from AMA House of Delegates 2022 meeting

Here are images from the American Medical Association (AMA) 2022 House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Chicago, June 10-15. This was the first time the HOD met in two and a half years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 15, 2022

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

FTC sues drug middlemen over insulin prices, puts others on notice

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.

Cardiovascular Business

Cath lab techs and nurses see new normal with post-COVID pay

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.

Cardiovascular Business

Merit Medical to purchase Cook Medical’s lead management portfolio for $210M

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