Government: Page 59
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Win McNamee / Staff via Getty Images
Biden discusses drug prices, mental health services in annual address
The president also announced a "test to treat" program that would allow people to receive a COVID-19 test at a pharmacy and immediately receive free antiviral pills, such as Pfizer's Paxlovid or Merck's molnupiravir.
By Shannon Muchmore • March 2, 2022 -
Mark Wilson via Getty Images
HHS received almost 300 info blocking claims since April, with majority lodged against providers
It's unclear what percentage of the claims are substantiated, though 77% of the possible claims of information blocking are against healthcare providers.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • March 1, 2022 -
Getty Images
Healthcare sector on alert for cyber threats in wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
AHA is especially concerned that some hospitals were collateral damage after Russia targeted Ukraine in a 2017 cyberattack that quickly spilled worldwide.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 28, 2022 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
CMS redesigns controversial Medicare direct contracting model
The decision to retain the direct contracting model — albeit with numerous changes and a new name — was met with mixed reactions from stakeholders.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 28, 2022 -
Mark Wilson via Getty Images
HHS sets out plans to make medical device, diagnostics supply chains pandemic-proof
The department wants to shore up the public health supply chain by investing in personal protective equipment, durable medical equipment and testing.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 28, 2022 -
DOJ moves forward with suit to block UnitedHealth's acquisition of Change
The lawsuit alleges that if UnitedHealth acquired Change, the payer would be able to gain a competitive advantage by seeing "very competitively sensitive" data from other insurers.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 25, 2022 -
Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
FTC seeks public comments on pharmacy benefit managers' impact on patients, pharmacies
After a failed bid to launch a formal inquiry into PBMs, the FTC now says it wants to collect comments from the public to study a wide array of PBM practices.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 25, 2022 -
Rhode Island's largest health systems abandon merger after FTC sues to block union
Lifespan and Care New England's boards decided "not to pursue litigation," according to a joint statement released Wednesday.
By Hailey Mensik , Samantha Liss • Feb. 24, 2022 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Surprise BillingTexas judge throws out piece of surprise billing rule in win for providers
The ruling tosses out the part of the rule that instructs arbiters must begin with the presumption that the qualifying payment amount, or median in-network rate, is the appropriate out-of-network amount to be paid to providers.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 24, 2022 -
Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
FTC sues to block Rhode Island's largest health systems from merging
Regulators allege a union between Lifespan and Care New England would increase prices and diminish quality as the combined system would control at least 70% of the state's hospital market.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 18, 2022 -
Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
FTC to vote on investigation into PBMs' drug pricing practices
The agency's commissioners will weigh Thursday whether to investigate PBMs and their relationship to drug prices and "practices that may disadvantage independent or specialty pharmacies," according to the meeting agenda.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 17, 2022 -
Retrieved from FTC.
FTC fails to get enough votes to launch study into PBM practices
Numerous pharmacists urged commissioners to probe the practices of PBMs, which they allege harm their independent pharmacies and threaten to drive them out of business.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 17, 2022 -
Q&A
FDA digital health chief talks new role with agency, AI tech
Bakul Patel, chief digital health officer for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, will help FDA meet its strategic priorities and set regulatory policies for new technologies such as AI and machine learning.
By Elise Reuter • Feb. 17, 2022 -
AstraZeneca notches win in ongoing 340B legal fight
The decision vacates a violation letter HHS sent to the drugmaker that argued it was illegally restricting discounts on drugs providers delivered through contract pharmacies.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 17, 2022 -
Molina plans steep reduction in marketplace enrollment
The payer is expected to lose two-thirds of its marketplace enrollment by the end of the year, according to executives.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 16, 2022 -
Nonprofit hospitals may provide less community benefit than for-profits in some states, study suggests
The results raise questions about the magnitude of tax subsidies nonprofits receive, and whether policymakers should better tie subsidies to facility performance in providing community benefit.
By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 16, 2022 -
DOJ has until Feb. 27 to sue to block UnitedHealth's $8B Change acquisition
The companies said they would give the DOJ 10 days notice before completing the merger, during which the DOJ could launch a lawsuit to block it. On Feb. 17, UnitedHealth and Change gave the regulators that notice.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Feb. 22, 2022 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Califf confirmed as FDA chief in close vote, ending protracted vacancy
Several Democratic lawmakers opposed Califf over his industry ties and the FDA's past policies on opioid painkillers, drawing out the confirmation process and making the final vote close.
By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 15, 2022 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
CMS delays hospital star ratings release
The updated five-star ratings are now expected in July instead of April after the agency identified an error in one of the measures.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 15, 2022 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Biden admin awards $55M in virtual care grants to community health centers
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Monday that the Biden administration would continue to "step up" to assist community health centers, including working with Congress to try to double their funding.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 15, 2022 -
Courtesy of Pfizer
FDA delays review of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for young children in surprise shift
The agency pushed back plans to expedite review of the shot in children under 5, seeking more data on a third dose. An advisory meeting scheduled for next week has been postponed as a result.
By Ben Fidler • Feb. 14, 2022 -
Hospital leaders, Congress mull fixes to current staffing woes
The omicron variant is posing new challenges as staff call in sick or quit their jobs entirely for higher-paying traveling nurse positions. That's leaving hospitals in a bind as they treat higher acuity COVID-19 patients.
By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 11, 2022 -
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Only 14% of hospitals comply with federal price transparency rules, advocacy group finds
The report said only two of 361 hospitals at three of the largest hospitals systems — HCA Healthcare, CommonSpirit Health and Ascension — were estimated to be in compliance with the federal standard.
By William Borden • Feb. 11, 2022 -
Stefan Zaklin via Getty Images
Apache tells Senate committee the Log4j vulnerability could take years to resolve
While a software bill of materials could improve supply chain security, users are still downloading vulnerable versions of software.
By David Jones • Feb. 10, 2022 -
Megan Quinn/Healthcare Dive
Congress poised to address mental health crisis — including fining payers for benefit inequities
"If we're going to respond to the behavioral health issues the pandemic has made worse ... that will take legislative action," Senate health committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., said.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 4, 2022
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