Healthcare news 2017

Here are some of the top healthcare news stories from 2017:

  1. ACA Repeal and Replace Efforts: The Republican-led Congress made several attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, but ultimately failed to pass a replacement bill.
  2. Opioid Epidemic: The opioid crisis continued to worsen in 2017, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting a record 42,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States.
  3. Vaccination Controversies: There were several high-profile vaccination controversies in 2017, including the measles outbreak in California and the debate over vaccine mandates.
  4. EHR Incentive Program: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would be ending the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, which had been in place since 2009.
  5. Price Transparency: The Trump administration announced plans to increase price transparency in healthcare, including requiring hospitals to post their prices online.
  6. Telemedicine Expansion: Telemedicine continued to expand in 2017, with many health systems and insurance companies investing in virtual care services.
  7. Cancer Moonshot Initiative: The Cancer Moonshot Initiative, launched by Vice President Joe Biden in 2016, continued to make progress in 2017, with a focus on advancing cancer research and treatment.
  8. Medicare Part B Premiums: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare Part B premiums would increase by 6.7% in 2018, the largest increase in 13 years.
  9. Healthcare Workforce Shortages: Healthcare workforce shortages continued to be a major concern in 2017, with many hospitals and health systems struggling to recruit and retain staff.
  10. Cybersecurity Threats: Healthcare organizations continued to face cybersecurity threats in 2017, with many experiencing data breaches and ransomware attacks.
  11. Value-Based Care: The shift towards value-based care continued in 2017, with many health systems and insurance companies investing in alternative payment models.
  12. Mental Health Reform: The Mental Health Reform Act of 2017 was signed into law, aimed at improving mental health services and reducing stigma around mental illness.
  13. DACA and Healthcare: The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allowed certain undocumented immigrants to receive healthcare coverage, was rescinded by the Trump administration in 2017.
  14. Healthcare Reform in Other Countries: There were several significant healthcare reforms implemented in other countries in 2017, including the introduction of a universal healthcare system in Australia and a new healthcare law in Canada.
  15. Medical Device Regulation: The FDA announced plans to modernize its medical device regulation process, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

These are just a few of the many healthcare news stories from 2017. It was a year marked by significant changes in healthcare policy, technology, and patient care.