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.

Maryland enacts sweeping ban on noncompetes for all healthcare professionals
The new law will ban noncompetes in the state for all healthcare workers who provide care, including veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
About that bipartisan $32B ‘roadmap’ for AI policy: What’s in it for healthcare?
This week Washington took a major step toward nailing down a solid game plan on federal AI spending for everything outside of defense.
FDA set to evaluate use of ‘ecstasy’ for treating PTSD
The party drug could soon be prescribed, in conjunction with psychological interventions, as a treatment for mental health disorders.
FDA announces another new recall involving Abbott’s HeartMate 3 LVADs after 70 injuries, 2 deaths
Abbott issued the new recall after receiving more than 80 reports of blood or air entering the LVAD during implant procedures. Customers can still use these devices, but they are advised to follow specific steps to limit the risk of complications.
Rand releases bracing analysis of hospital prices; AHA repudiates approach, methodology
The Rand Corporation is reporting that, in 2022, employers and private insurers paid hospitals an average 254% more than what Medicare would have spent for the same services in the same facilities.

HHS teams up with Janssen to treat coronavirus

HHS is extending its existing partnership with pharmaceutical company Janssen Research & Development, which is part of Johnson & Johnson, to develop treatments for the 2019 novel coronavirus, the agency announced.

February 18, 2020

Unregulated Craiglist drug market rising due to sky-high prices

More Americans afflicted with chronic disease are turning to unregulated markets such as Craigslist to find insulin and other necessary medications because they can’t afford to purchase them at the pharmacy.

February 18, 2020

Study: Universal healthcare system would save lives, improve healthcare

A Medicare for all healthcare system has the potential to improve the availability of services and efficiency of care in the United States, according to a recent study published in The Lancet.

February 18, 2020

Healthcare spending closes in on $6K per privately insured person

HCCI analyzed more than 2.5 billion de-identified claims, including those for prescription drugs as well as medical visits, filed from 2014 to 2018 with Aetna, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare.

February 14, 2020

Fewer struggling to pay medical bills—surprise or not—but millions still set back

Citing data previously published from the National Health Interview Survey, authors Amy Cha, PhD, MPH, and Robin Cohen, PhD, point out that major medical bills piling up for one member of a family tend to weaken the entire household.

February 12, 2020

China ramps up AI surveillance in face of coronavirus outbreak

Big-name Chinese technology vendors have responded to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak by using more AI surveillance on the general public than ever before.

February 11, 2020

Health impacts are mixed when the minimum wage is raised

Where to set the minimum wage, or whether to set one at all, is one of the most contentious political questions in these divided times. A new study focused on health outcomes may give argumentation ammunition to all sides.

February 11, 2020

Hospitals, ambulatory care centers hired 34K workers last month

U.S. healthcare added almost 36,000 jobs in January, with most of the hiring being done by ambulatory health providers (around 23,000 new jobs) and hospitals (10,000).

February 10, 2020

Around the web

AI in Healthcare

About that bipartisan $32B ‘roadmap’ for AI policy: What’s in it for healthcare?

This week Washington took a major step toward nailing down a solid game plan on federal AI spending for everything outside of defense.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA announces new recall of delivery catheters after patient’s death

The recall includes specific lots of five different medical devices used to treat stroke and other neurovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA warns against use of troubled heart devices, citing ‘continued concerns’ after multiple recalls

The agency is urging healthcare providers to transition away from these devices and seek out alternatives. It is even working with other manufacturers to try and get similar products on the market as quickly as possible.