Democratic senators want stricter HIPAA rules to protect abortion patients

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Michael Bennet are calling on the HHS to use its existing scope of regulatory power to beef up HIPAA’s privacy measures to better protect patients seeking reproductive healthcare.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 5, 2022

SCOTUS won't hear challenge to health worker vaccine mandate

Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented in the court’s decision regarding the New York lawsuit.

By Hailey Mensik • July 1, 2022

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Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

CMS wants Tennessee to change Trump-approved Medicaid block grant plan

Regulators sent a letter to Tennessee requesting the state submit a new financing and budget neutrality model based on a traditional per member per month cap, instead of an aggregate cap, among other changes.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 1, 2022

CMS insurer price transparency rule has taken effect. Signs are good for compliance

UnitedHealthcare, Anthem and Centene are among the major payers already hosting machine-readable cost files onsite.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 1, 2022

Pfizer seeks full FDA approval of Paxlovid as questions about its benefits grow

A standard clearance could further broaden Paxlovid’s fast-rising use. But weaknesses are emerging too, among them unclear benefits in vaccinated people and a potential lack of potency against new variants.

By Delilah Alvarado • June 30, 2022

Biden signs law requiring more VA transparency on EHR rollout costs

The new law received bipartisan support as lawmakers become increasingly frustrated with the VA’s management of the seven-year-old program, which has been dogged by delays, growing spending and operational issues.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 30, 2022

AMA 'deeply disappointed' with SCOTUS EPA ruling

In its annual meeting in early June, the association labeled climate change a “public health crisis that threatens the health and well-being of all people.”

By Sydney Halleman • June 30, 2022

HHS issues guidance on when providers may be forced to share patient information

The HHS Office for Civil Rights issued privacy guidelines Wednesday clarifying how to protect patient health information following the Supreme Court's ruling ending the constitutional right to an abortion.

By Samantha Liss • June 30, 2022

HHS to send out more monkeypox vaccines as CDC activates emergency center

The distribution will take place on a four-tier basis with areas that have the highest case rates coming first. Within the tiers, priority will be based on the number of people at risk for monkeypox who have preexisting conditions.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 30, 2022

House hearing ups ante on Medicare Advantage reform

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are taking a harder look at coverage denials, fraud and waste in the popular program.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 29, 2022

Democrat governors urge Congress to prevent 'disastrous' coverage loss by preserving ACA subsidies

The 14 governors said they’re concerned many Americans will be forced to reduce insurance coverage or forgo it entirely if Congress allows the subsidies to expire.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 29, 2022

CMS launches voluntary incentive program aiming to cut cancer death rate

The Enhancing Oncology Model requires participating providers to offer services including patient navigation, 24-hour access to clinicians, a detailed care plan and screening for social needs.

By Susan Kelly • June 29, 2022

How the decision overturning Roe v. Wade is changing healthcare

Many provider groups protested the 6-3 decision, with the American Medical Association saying it was "deeply disturbed" by the court overturning Roe v. Wade, which was precedent for almost half a century.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated July 5, 2022

Some state abortion laws put on hold as providers grapple with aftermath of Dobbs decision

In Louisiana and Utah, judges put temporary holds on abortion bans and set future court dates to litigate the issue. Other states still have trigger laws currently in effect.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 28, 2022

Following Roe ruling, Biden administration warns payers they must cover contraception

Historically, insurer compliance with this provision of the law has been inconsistent, but the stakes for women’s health are significantly higher given the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 28, 2022

Supreme Court rules in favor of HHS in Medicare disproportionate share payments case

The highest court upheld HHS' method of calculating Medicare payments to hospitals serving a high proportion of low-income patients, rebutting hospitals’ efforts to recoup potentially billions of dollars from the program.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 27, 2022

‘Chaos’ from state abortion bans going into effect will have legal, criminal implications for providers

The effect of the Supreme Court’s opinion has been felt by providers, medical groups and hospitals across the country, including primary care doctors and emergency physicians.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 24, 2022

Firearm-safety law is move toward acknowledging gun violence as public health issue, physicians say

Medical associations representing physicians voiced their support for the legislation and have recently strengthened their messaging on gun reform following mass shootings.

By Hailey Mensik • June 24, 2022

Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional right to abortion

Most abortions are now banned in at least 13 states, as a flurry of laws restricting the procedure came into effect following the Supreme Court’s highly controversial decision.

By Sydney Halleman • June 24, 2022

Colorado first state to launch public option via federal waiver

Through the waiver granted by the CMS on Thursday, Colorado can use federal funds to set up a government-run health plan, a long-held progressive healthcare goal.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 24, 2022

SCOTUS rejects UnitedHealth appeal of Medicare Advantage overpayment rule

The justices declined to take up the case, leaving intact a lower court ruling that backed the 2014 CMS regulation requiring swift return of overpayments.

By Susan Kelly • June 22, 2022

Molina to pay $4.6M to settle False Claim Act allegations

The settlement comes after whistleblowers brought a suit against Molina and a former subsidiary, alleging care at Massachusetts-based behavioral health clinics was given by inadequately trained and unsupervised clinicians.

By Sydney Halleman • June 22, 2022

Medicare data errors impede health equity efforts, OIG says

The ability to assess health disparities and improve care delivery in communities of color hinges on the quality of race and ethnicity data that is currently falling short, the report said.

By Susan Kelly • June 21, 2022

Washington ups pressure on PBMs with more aggressive FTC policy, congressional ask for GAO study

The Federal Trade Commission has voted unanimously to adopt a policy statement to more closely examine fees and rebates paid to PBMs in exchange for preferred coverage of their drugs from payers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 21, 2022

Pharma under the microscope as FTC considers new ways to review acquisitions

At a two-day meeting, experts argued drug divestitures may not be enough to prevent market concentration. Economists and regulators also appeared worried by the effect of buyouts on innovation.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 17, 2022