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States Target School Cell Phone Use At least four states have banned or severely restricted the use of smart phones in schools in the current legislative biennium. Florida became the first state to do...
Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs Creating Headaches for State Regulators With popular weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy in short supply, many doctors, pharmacies and other providers have...
In their seminal book on the American health care system, legendary investigative reporters Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele offered a disturbing metaphor for the illogical nature of medical pricing...
PA Lawmakers Pass Bill Regulating PBMs The Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill ( HB 1993 ) aimed at increasing oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. If signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), the measure...
In a sign of the times, states have begun pursuing bills that require disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence. In March, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed SB 149 , making the state the first...
Doctors will see a 1.25% reduction in Medicare reimbursements next year due to a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Some hospitals are also facing $7.8 billion in CMS cuts over 16 years to reimburse safety-net hospitals hit by previous cuts to a discount drug purchasing program struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. (KFF HEALTH NEWS, MODERN HEALTHCARE, AXIOS)
The Republican governors of 15 states sent a letter to President Biden asking his administration to reconsider its proposed nurse staffing requirements for long-term care facilities. The regulations, proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in early September and widely opposed by the long-term care industry, would require nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid to provide at least 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse per resident per day and 2.45 hours of care from a nurse aid per resident per day, as well as always have at least one registered nurse on site. (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, KIMT)
A committee formed by Congress to explore ways to reduce costs and improve patient billing for ambulance services recommended banning surprise bills, limiting patient cost-sharing and making bills easier to understand. The committee will deliver a report on its recommendations to Congress early next year. (PBS NEWS HOUR)
—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK