Tag: healthcare legislation

Study: Surgical patients face higher odds of food insecurity

Editor's Note New research shows surgical patients in the US face a significantly greater risk of food insecurity than nonsurgical patients, even after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic differences. Findings also point to potential underutilization of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits among surgical patients, study authors write.  …

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By: Matt Danford
June 20, 2025
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Medicaid data shared with DHS to aid immigration enforcement

Editor's Note The Trump administration ordered federal health officials this week to share personal data from Medicaid enrollees with deportation authorities, the Associated Press (AP) reported June 14. According to the report, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to transfer enrollee…

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By: Matt Danford
June 16, 2025
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Significant CMS moves include withdrawal of emergency abortion care guidance

Editor's Note CMS has rescinded a 2022 guidance that protected clinicians providing emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA), removing a key federal safeguard for providers in states with abortion restrictions, according to a June 2 article in Becker’s Hospital Review. The guidance, originally issued…

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By: Matt Danford
June 5, 2025
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Leaders translate legislative priorities to perioperative practice

The wave of new legal requirements for surgical smoke evacuation across the country has given OR leaders a crash course in how to act on any new legislation. Based on this experience, complying with other new and pending laws will put these skills to the test. Major hurdles are likely…

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By: Carina Stanton
June 5, 2025
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Proposed HHS, NIH budget cuts reveal administration priorities

Editor's Note The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget calls for slashing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary budget by $32 billion, a nearly 25% cut that brings the total to $95 billion. Fierce Healthcare reported the news June 2.  Although many of the proposed cuts…

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By: Matt Danford
June 3, 2025
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New collaboration links National Trauma Awareness Month, Stop the Bleed Month

Editor's Note America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Stop the Bleed program have launched a national collaboration to strengthen trauma response and emergency preparedness, according to a May 30 announcement. The initiative connects public education in bleeding control with efforts to maintain a stable national…

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By: Matt Danford
June 2, 2025
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AHA urges HHS to cut regulations that burden hospitals and staff

Editor's Note The American Hospital Association (AHA) has called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to eliminate or ease a variety of federal regulations, arguing that excessive administrative rules drive up costs, reduce patient access, and hinder innovation, Modern Healthcare reported May 13. According to the article,…

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By: Matt Danford
May 16, 2025
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Commentary: Overlooking, underfunding perioperative mental health threatens patients

Editor's Note Amid a lack of focus and lack of resources on perioperative mental health, alleviating patient anxiety and preventing poor surgical outcomes requires creative solutions. This is the central argument of a May 12 commentary in The Conversation by Renée El-Gabalawy, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the…

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By: Matt Danford
May 16, 2025
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Time for a surgical skills check? Inside the ACS stance on aging physicians

Takeaways • US surgeons have no mandated retirement age. According to the Aging Surgeon Program, “a patient death or serious negative event are currently the only things that prompt action to prevent a surgeon from practicing.” • Research on aging-related decline is clear, but nuanced, showing rates and scope vary…

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By: Brita Belli
May 7, 2025
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State AGs sue HHS over sweeping cuts

Editor's Note State attorneys general from 20 states filed suit to block major restructuring and layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alleging the actions bypass Congress, violate federal law, and endanger public health. As detailed in a May 5 report from Fierce Healthcare, the lawsuit seeks…

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By: Matt Danford
May 6, 2025
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