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.

Change Healthcare faces second ransom as cybercriminals leak stolen data
A new hacker group is claiming credit for the data breach, first reported in February. Change Healthcare has already paid criminals a $22 million ransom.
The growing shortage or general cardiologists and recruiting crisis in rural America
There is a rapidly growing shortage in general cardiologists and for positions in rural areas, numerous healthcare system recruiters set up at the ACC reported.
CMS proposed rule would boost Medicare inpatient rates by 2.6%
CMS has issued a proposed rule that would result in a net increase of 2.6% to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system rate for fiscal year 2025, a raise that hospital trade groups say doesn’t go far enough.
Payments to FDA advisory panel questioned
A recent investigation from KFF Health News about payments to members of an FDA panel evaluating an Abbott Laboratories cardiac device is raising eyebrows.
Drug price dialogues represent ‘an opportunity for CMS to clarify negotiation policies and their potential impact for the future’
CMS must ensure transparency, clarity and predictability by providing detailed guidance on comparator drug selection and the evaluation of evidence, according to a group of D.C.-based health policy researchers.

Rand study suggests hospitals are exorbitantly overpaid by private insurers; AHA reacts

In real dollars, these payers’ combined savings would have nearly reached $20 billion just in 2018, the analysis shows.

September 21, 2020

Lawmaker ‘deeply concerned’ over $250M HHS contract for coronavirus-related PR work

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., worries the agency is using taxpayer funds to fuel the commander-in-chief’s bid for a second term.

September 14, 2020

Twenty-three percent of cardiologists have a net worth of more than $5 million, No. 5 among all specialties, according to a new report. A majority of cardiologists also said they have had no significant financial losses in the last year. What are cardiologists paid? How much do cardiologists make?

Alleged Stark violations, kickbacks to cost hospital $50M

A 223-bed acute care institution with a medical staff of nearly 300 physicians has agreed to pay $50 million over allegations it deliberately submitted ineligible claims to Medicare and profited handsomely by these actions.

September 10, 2020

4 hurdles thwarting AI from conquering clinical practice

AI will not earn a place in the daily practice of medicine until its developers definitively answer some pressing questions on fitness and appropriateness.

September 9, 2020

Researchers clarify: Don’t dismiss the neck gaiter as a facemask failure

Remember the Duke study that seemed to suggest a neck gaiter can spread more COVID than no mask at all? Its authors now say their findings were misconstrued. Gaiters may be OK after all.

August 19, 2020

Standard operating procedures start chugging back to life at Medicare, Medicaid

As part of its Monday announcement, CMS released inspection guidance for state agencies and a toolkit for nursing homes.

August 17, 2020

$66M to hospitalize 38 patients over 3 weeks—would you take that deal?

Responding swiftly to the COVID crisis this past spring, the city of Chicago imagined, built and began operating a nicely outfitted, high-capacity hospital in just three weeks and five days. That was the impressive part.

August 14, 2020

Search engines unequally inhospitable to antivaxxers

Privacy-first search engines brought back numerous sites when researchers entered the words vaccine and autism. Google turned up zero. Is that impressive—or glaring?

August 13, 2020

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologist salary update: Compensation jumps to $525K per year, No. 3 among all specialties

In addition, cardiologists average an additional $75,000 per year in incentive-based bonuses. That number is only higher for two other specialties.

Cardiovascular Business

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open.

Cardiovascular Business

Johnson & Johnson to acquire Shockwave Medical for $13.1B

The rumors, it seems, were true. Once the deal is finalized, Shockwave Medical will operate as a business unit within Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

Policy & Regulations

Change Healthcare faces second ransom as cybercriminals leak stolen data

The growing shortage or general cardiologists and recruiting crisis in rural America

CMS proposed rule would boost Medicare inpatient rates by 2.6%

Payments to FDA advisory panel questioned

Drug price dialogues represent ‘an opportunity for CMS to clarify negotiation policies and their potential impact for the future’

Around the web