Topic:
Legal / Regulatory / Risk Management
Latest Headlines
Latest Headlines
PCAST report highlights critical need to design and deploy technologies, policies specific to aging Americans
Last week, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a new report with recommendations for the federal government when it comes to advancing policies on telehealth and electronic health records, among other things, to help older Americans live more independent lives. Mobile health, as we note here every week, has tremendous potential to help aging populations by providing faster and easier access to care and keep costs down. But, as the PCAST report reveals, none of these benefits can be tapped without substantial federal government support, action and commitment.
NQF issues new guidance on federal healthcare quality measures
A partnership that aims to help the federal government select performance measures has issued recommendations on new quality measures for several federal healthcare programs, including the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and Medicare Shared Savings Program.
Texas law results in longer wait times for abortions
As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of a Texas law, the result of the legislation has been longer wait times and higher costs for abortions in that state, according to the New York Times
Florida surgeon faces state complaint over case involving concurrent surgery
A West Palm Beach surgeon is facing an administrative complaint from Florida regulators for supervising a team that operated on the wrong part of a boy's leg while he was handling multiple surgeries at the same time, according to the Sun Sentinel.
How the two political parties approach healthcare risk pooling
When examining the health policies advocated by Democrats and Republicans—and their respective presidential candidates--it's clear that the two parties have two very different philosophies about how to pool risk in health insurance, according to a blog post from Health Affairs.
HHS releases National Pain Strategy to prevent and manage pain
It was five years in the making, but last week the Department of Health and Human Services released its National Pain Strategy, which outlines a roadmap for providing all patients "appropriate, high quality and evidence-based care for pain."
West Virginia governor pushes for oversight exemption for hospital merger
The governor of West Virginia appears to have come up with a unique way to avoid a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission over a pending merger of hospitals: exempt the deal from federal law.
Medicare Part B proposals too broad and could hurt patients, groups say
In a letter sent Thursday, 316 healthcare and patient advocacy groups urged leaders in both houses of Congress to ask the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to withdraw its proposal for new Medicare Part B payment models.
A tough balance for physicians: Limiting opioids, treating patients in pain
Some think new government guidelines on how primary care clinicians should prescribe opioid painkillers leave doctors between a rock and a proverbial hard place.
Supreme Court contraception case hinges on decades-old religious freedom law
Religious leaders are preparing to face off against the Obama administration in a Supreme Court hearing next week that will determine whether or not government exemptions surrounding the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate have left enough room for religiously affiliated employers to exercise religious freedom, according to the Wall Street Journal.
