The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has released a new rule that will "cut red tape for doctors, hospitals and health plans," according to a release published on the agency's website. The regulation adopts operating rules for making healthcare claim payments electronically and describing adjustments to claim payments.

Semiannual surveillance mammography after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) enables diagnosis at an earlier stage compared with annual exams, according to a study published in the August issue of Radiology. The findings provide evidence that contradicts existing expert opinion-based guidelines, which recommend annual mammographic surveillance for these women.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently began the promised audits of Medicare providers and dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid hospitals receiving payments from the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

The Supreme Court rejected the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provision that would have required states to expand their Medicaid programs, leaving the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with limited power to shape Medicaid policy at the state level, according to an article published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has a modest impact on survival, it has a meaningful impact on metastatic disease burden, which may deliver benefits such as reduced morbidity and costs, according to a study published in the August issue of Urology.

The FDA has provided clearance to initiate a clinical study supporting a joint development program for Celsions ThermoDox cancer treatment combined with Philips Sonalleve MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound.

In an effort to elicit greater understanding of how states will uphold most provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has submitted a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services with critical questions that must have answers before states can determine best how to proceed in light of the courts decision.

More than 48 million Medicare beneficiaries insurance cards show their Social Security numbers (SSNs). To reduce the risk of identity theft, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develop an approach and cost estimate for removing them from Medicare cards.