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Policy and Legislation

By Jeff Lagasse | 01:36 pm | June 15, 2016
The American Medical Association voted at its annual meeting to expand its existing policy on gun safety to include support for waiting periods and background checks for all firearm purchasers. The previous policy supported them, but only for purchasers of handguns; the update parallels policies endorsed by other health organizations.
By Henry Powderly | 01:18 pm | June 15, 2016
Data shows that 24 million more people would become uninsured by 2021 if the Affordable Care Act is repealed following the 2016 election, according to a new report.
By Henry Powderly | 12:51 pm | June 15, 2016
Policy changes tied to Medicaid could have a drastic effect on whether many hospitals have the financial viability to stay in business, the Kaiser Family Foundation said in a new brief published Thursday.
By Jeff Lagasse | 10:24 am | June 15, 2016
To help more people with prediabetes access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Diabetes Prevention Program, the American Medical Association has adopted a policy during its annual meeting to encourage private and public health plans to include the DPP as a covered benefit for their beneficiaries.
By Kaiser Health News | 08:13 am | June 15, 2016
The law was a response to complaints from Medicare patients who were surprised to learn that although they had spent a few days in the hospital, they were there for observation and were not admitted. Observation patients are considered too sick to go home yet not sick enough to be admitted. They may pay higher charges than admitted patients and do not qualify for Medicare's nursing home coverage.
By Jeff Lagasse | 01:21 pm | June 14, 2016
In the wake of the worst mass shooting in American history, and with more than 6,000 deaths already in 2016 from gun violence, the American Medical Association has adopted policy calling gun violence in the United States "a public health crisis," requiring a comprehensive public health response and solution.
By Jeff Lagasse | 09:51 am | June 14, 2016
Physician leaders have voted to adopt a modernized Code of Medical Ethics during the American Medical Association's annual meeting, capping an eight-year project to modernize the code's ethical guidance for relevance, clarity and consistency, the AMA said.
By Susan Morse | 09:44 am | June 14, 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday proposed a new rule intended to reduce overuse of antibiotics, implement comprehensive requirements for infection prevention and prohibit discrimination.
By Susan Morse | 03:24 pm | June 10, 2016
CMS is awarding $10 million over the next three years to organizations that will help clinicians transition to the new quality payment system outlined under MACRA.
By Jeff Lagasse | 01:29 pm | June 08, 2016
While reforms tied to the Affordable Care Act have most healthcare providers focusing on quality and efficiency, financial experts say the dramatic change in business model is driving improvement in credit ratings.