Market access decides whether a product is paid for; this page covers how the system pays for care itself. It collects the regulatory updates HealthSignal tracks on hospital and provider payment systems, including prospective payment rules, diagnosis-related groups and tariffs, alongside facility licensing, care quality inspection regimes, service commissioning, and the regulation of health professionals. In the United States this is largely Medicare and Medicaid rulemaking from CMS; in Europe it is split across national payers and health ministries. Every item is drawn from official public bodies at the level of regulation, policy, and law.
CMS proposes electronic prior authorization requirements and interoperability standards for drug authorizations across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and exchange QHP issuers.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United Statesgematik publishes implementation guidance for KIM (secure messaging system) adoption in nursing and care facilities.
gematik (German Digital Health) · GermanyProposed rule updating physician fee schedule, Part B payment policies, drug inflation rebate program, quality payment program, and promoting interoperability program for 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS extend telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2026.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesNICE recommends offering pregnancy-specific artificial pancreas devices to pregnant or planning-pregnancy women with type 1 diabetes.
UK NICE · UKDEA and HHS postponed effective dates of final rules expanding buprenorphine telemedicine treatment and VA continuity-of-care telemedicine from February 18 to March 21, 2025, pending further policy review.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA extends temporary exceptions allowing telemedicine prescribing of controlled medications without prior in-person evaluation, pending final rulemaking.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesANS publishes guidance to help health facilities implement and scale secure messaging (MSSanté) across their operations.
ANS - French Digital Health Agency · FranceMHRA guidance on safe use of MRI equipment in clinical settings.
UK MHRA · UKDEA finalizes regulations implementing the SUPPORT Act's expansion of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, including telehealth dispensing and practitioner qualification requirements.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS delayed the effective date of two final rules expanding buprenorphine telemedicine treatment and VA continuity of care via telemedicine from February 18 to March 21, 2025.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA proposes Special Registration framework for telemedicine practitioners to prescribe controlled substances without in-person evaluation, with heightened recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS amend regulations to permit practitioners to prescribe schedule III-V controlled substances for opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine, including initial six-month supplies after PDMP review.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA extends telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2025.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA expands authorization for practitioners to prescribe schedule III-V narcotic drugs for maintenance and withdrawal management via telemedicine, including audio-only encounters.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesNICE conditionally recommends a lung preservation machine that keeps donated lungs viable outside the body, potentially enabling hundreds of additional transplants.
UK NICE · UKCMS and CDC seek public input on updating CLIA regulations covering breath testing, laboratory processes, emergency preparedness, biosafety, biosecurity, and cybersecurity.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesAmendment to Swedish regulations on mandatory reporting obligations to Socialstyrelsen's national patient register.
Socialstyrelsen - Föreskrifter (SE) · SwedenVA practitioners may prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine to VA patients without prior in-person evaluation if another VA practitioner previously evaluated the patient.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA issues interim rule amending regulations to implement the Ryan Haight Act's provisions preventing illegal Internet distribution of controlled substances.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesHHS seeks public input on whether safe harbor regulations under the anti-kickback statute and beneficiary inducements exceptions need modification for remuneration provided to clinical trial participants.
US Federal Register - HHS Rules · United StatesDEA permits mobile components of registered narcotic treatment programs to operate as coincident activities without separate registration, enabling remote dispensing for maintenance and detoxification treatment.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesActualité
ANS - French Digital Health Agency · FranceNICE guidance on faecal immunochemical testing for bowel cancer is reducing unnecessary urgent referrals by 140,000 annually while maintaining cancer detection rates.
UK NICE · UKgematik publishes 2026 data on digital health application adoption and value delivery across German healthcare provision.
gematik (German Digital Health) · GermanyRemote monitoring approach for heart failure patients reduced hospital admissions by 58% and saved £4,158 per patient.
UK NICE · UKgematik announces a deadline for healthcare professionals to exchange their professional identification cards.
gematik (German Digital Health) · GermanyThe Commission presented an EU action plan to strengthen cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers.
EC Digital Health · EU-widegematik publishes a position paper with recommendations for cross-process digital transformation in German health systems.
gematik (German Digital Health) · Germany