Policy & Regulation: Page 2
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Dive AwardsHire of the Year: Adam Boehler, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
The founder and former CEO of Landmark Health left a lucrative salary to take CMMI, created under the ACA to test health delivery and payment models, in a new direction.
By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 03, 2018
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Dive AwardsDisruptor of the Year: Amazon
Although some analysts remain skeptical about Amazon's threat to the highly regulated industry, the landscape looks entirely different than it did just one year ago.
By Samantha Liss • Dec. 03, 2018
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340B drug program ceiling price, penalties start Jan. 1
Following years of delay and pushback from the hospital industry, HHS has finalized a rule that implements ceiling prices and civil monetary penalties for drug manufacturers.
By Tony Abraham • Nov. 30, 2018
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Beth Israel-Lahey Health merger cleared with conditions, including price cap
The Massachusetts attorney general secured a nearly $72 million commitment from the combined organization, which will go toward healthcare services for low-income residents.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 30, 2018
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Number of uninsured children increases for first time in decade
The percentage of uninsured children in the U.S. went up from 4.7% in 2016 to 5% in 2017, and nine states saw "significant" increases, according to the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 30, 2018
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HHS outlines broad plan to reduce EHR burden
The 74-page draft strategy, required by the 21st Century Cures Act, focuses on reducing time and effort tied to regulatory reporting requirements and increasing functionality and user-friendliness of EHRs.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 29, 2018
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CMS offers states more waiver options to skirt ACA requirements
Administrator Seema Verma said the move will improve affordability and consumer choice, but Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said the proposal will promote "junk plans."
By Les Masterson • Nov. 29, 2018
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Study highlights discrepancy in hospital rankings
Top-ranked hospitals had higher readmissions for heart failure than nonranked hospitals, according to the report in JAMA Cardiology.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 29, 2018
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AMA report finds less payer competition
The states that saw the largest drops in competition between 2016 and 2017 were North Dakota, Alaska, Louisiana, Indiana and Utah, according to the study.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 28, 2018
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States debate Medicaid work requirements in wake of midterms
Virginia is the latest state to apply for a waiver, but Wisconsin's governor-elect is contemplating an end to his state's work requirement.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 28, 2018
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Almost 70% of voters support protection for pre-existing conditions
More than 90% of self-identified Democrats, 79% of independents and 62% of Republicans would feel very concerned if they lost coverage for pre-existing conditions, according to the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 28, 2018
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OIG: Medicare reimbursements skewed by 'significant vulnerabilities' in hospital wage data
Five of the watchdog's most recent reviews of hospital wage data between 2004 and 2017 revealed an estimated $140.5 million in improper payments to hospitals.
By Tony Abraham • Nov. 28, 2018
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Deep DiveFilming the opioid epidemic: 5 must-see documentaries
Healthcare Dive reviewed about a dozen films profiling the crisis to bring you this curated list of the best to watch.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 27, 2018
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Texas Walmart hosting Beacon mental health clinic
The mental health services provider said it's launching clinics in retail stores and other locations that will provide "convenience, privacy and accessibility."
By Les Masterson • Nov. 27, 2018
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CMS aims to tackle drug costs by giving payers more bargaining power
Under the agency's proposal, Part D plans would be allowed to exclude protected drugs from their formularies in certain instances.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 27, 2018
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Drug costs pushed one-third of Americans to skip a prescription in the past year: GoodRx
Nearly all respondents to a recent survey said they had health insurance, yet 42% noted they were still having difficulty paying for medications.
By Jacob Bell • Nov. 26, 2018
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California imposes conditions on CHI-Dignity Health merger
The state approved the deal so long as the two health systems agree to certain measures meant to preserve access to care and financial aid. The two will operate 30 hospitals in California.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 26, 2018
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More than half of health data breaches triggered internally, study finds
Still, more than a third of the incidents are caused by theft from outsiders or unknown parties, according to an analysis of HHS data.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 21, 2018
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People with limited health insurance literacy more likely to avoid care
Plain-language communication from trusted healthcare professionals could help improve health literacy and lead to more use of preventive services, according to a new study in JAMA.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 21, 2018
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CMS should give states more info to improve Medicaid MCO data reliability, GAO says
Of the eight states studied, three use an additional oversight practice to compare encounter data with an external data source and five use other mechanisms to enforce reporting requirements, including penalties, according to the watchdog.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 21, 2018
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Consumerism (and Amazon) loom over #USNHoT
Disruption doesn't have to come from the tech sector, said healthcare execs at the U.S. News & World Report Healthcare of Tomorrow conference. Businesses must prioritize customer relationships, data and convenience to stay ahead.
By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 20, 2018
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FDA plan would ease regulations for prescription drug apps
The agency is seeking public comment on a proposed regulatory framework that would treat most prescription drug apps, including dose calculators, symptom trackers and medication reminders, as promotional labeling.
By Susan Kelly • Nov. 20, 2018
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Telehealth laws inhibit widespread use in Medicare population, CMS says
The agency is opening up virtual care in some alternative payment models, but use among fee-for-service beneficiaries is just 0.25%, according to a new report. The states with the highest use are Texas, Iowa and California.
By Meg Bryant • Nov. 19, 2018
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Primary care physician visits drop among patients with employer plans
Office visits for all providers went up between 2012 and 2016 despite the drop for primary care physicians, pointing to a bigger role for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, according to the Health Care Cost Institute.
By Les Masterson • Nov. 19, 2018
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Pfizer tests Trump with plans to hike prices on 41 drugs
Last month, Pfizer CEO Ian Read indicated the pharma would soon return to "business as normal" after a rare reversal on price hikes made in July.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 19, 2018