Health Policy

Clinical evidence, research, and medical intelligence in Health Policy.

Hospital Buyouts of Doctors’ Offices Can Inflate Routine Care Bills

Hospital ownership of doctors’ offices is driving routine care bills higher, with facility fees and hospital billing rates pushing charges far above office rates.

By Dr. A. Nikhil Krishnan, MBBS · Oct 27, 2026 · 5 min read

Health Policy·STAT

HHS loosens health record software security and transparency rules

HHS removed 14 certification requirements for electronic health record software, easing oversight as critics warn of privacy and…

Oct 27, 2026

Health Policy·MedCity

Patient Matching Reform Falls Short, Hybrid Health IT Rules Offer Better Fix

Congress wants better patient matching, but hybrid deterministic-probabilistic methods may reduce errors more effectively across health systems.

Oct 26, 2026

Health Policy·BMJ

Doctors’ pay row deepens after government backs 2.4% rise in England

The government has recommended a 2.4% doctor pay rise in England, warning higher awards could strain budgets and…

Oct 25, 2026

Health Policy·Becker P

CMS gains power to exclude providers from Medicare and Medicaid

CMS now has direct authority to exclude physicians and entities from Medicare and Medicaid after a new delegation…

Oct 25, 2026

Health Policy·Becker P

Horizon BCBS to acquire Summit Health’s New Jersey operations

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will acquire Summit Health’s New Jersey business, including CityMD urgent…

Oct 24, 2026

Health Policy·Fierce HC

Hospital Prices Poll Finds 89% Want Congress to Act

A new poll shows overwhelming bipartisan support for congressional action on hospital prices, transparency, and limits on surprise…

Oct 24, 2026

Health Policy·Med Econ

Medicare AWV should not absorb surgery payment cuts

ACS wants CMS to trim same-day E/M payment, but the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is preventive care, not…

Oct 24, 2026

Health Policy·HC Dive

Risant Health to acquire Integris Health in third nonprofit deal

Risant Health will acquire Oklahoma’s largest nonprofit system, giving Integris fresh capital and technology as margins tighten and…

Oct 23, 2026

Health Policy·Becker H

Clinical documentation queries move closer to bedside care

Clinicians are answering CDI queries faster by bringing documentation support closer to the point of care, reducing delays…

Oct 22, 2026

Health Policy

Clinical evidence, research, and medical intelligence in Health Policy.

In Brief The 5-minute rounds

New hypertension guideline lowers the treatment threshold to 130/80 mm Hg.
Phase 3 GLP-1 trial reports a 20% cut in major adverse cardiac events.
FDA clears a next-generation CAR-T therapy for relapsed lymphoma.
Meta-analysis links early mobilisation to shorter ICU length of stay.
Rapid guidance broadens empiric antibiotics for suspected sepsis.