• District of Columbia: U.S. News & World Report has delayed its "Best Medical Schools" rankings for the second year in a row. According to MedPage Today, the delay comes amid ongoing controversy about the rankings. Last year, several prominent medical schools, including Harvard Medical School, said they would no longer submit data for or participate in the rankings. According to U.S. News, it's "currently reviewing queries from some graduate schools, including whether and to what extent affiliated institutions were considered in the bibliometrics data used in the 2024 Best Medical Schools and 2024 Best Engineering Schools rankings, and which accrediting body was used as a source of reference for the 2024 Best Clinical Psychology Programs rankings" and that the delay will continue "until such time that we can appropriately address these questions." So far, an updated release date for the rankings has not been disclosed, and U.S. News said it will "provide updates with more information as to the timing of these rankings as soon as we are able." (Henderson, MedPage Today, 4/9; Brooks/Morse, U.S. News & World Report, 4/8)
• District of Columbia: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and HHS have launched a new online portal called HealthyCompetition.gov that allows the public "to report healthcare practices that may harm competition." FTC and DOJ's Antitrust Division will review the confidential complaints, and those with "sufficient concern" will be forwarded to the most appropriate agency and "may lead to the opening of a formal investigation," the agencies said. According to the agencies, the submissions can help the federal government ensure healthcare organizations are providing fair wages and quality care. "All too often, we hear how unfair methods of competition and monopolistic practices may be depriving Americans of access to affordable, high-quality healthcare," said FTC Chair Lina Khan. "This joint initiative between, FTC, DOJ, and HHS will provide a crucial channel for the agencies to hear from the public, bolstering our work to check illegal business practices that harm consumers and workers alike." (Commins, HealthLeaders, 4/18; Muoio, Fierce Healthcare, 4/18)
• Maryland: FDA issued recalls for two different medical devices after they were linked to injuries and deaths. FDA last Monday issued a recall of the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 devices manufactured by Thoratec Corp., a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories. The devices, which are mechanical pumps, have been linked to hundreds of injuries and at least 14 deaths. According to Amanda Hils, an FDA press officer, the agency is currently working with Abbott to investigate the injuries and deaths linked to the devices and to determine if further action is necessary. FDA also issued a recall for Boston Scientific's Obsidio Conformable Embolic device after seven injuries and two deaths were reported. An increased risk of bowel ischemia was associated with delivery of the device via the aliquot technique, a common method used for embolization procedures that treat lower gastrointestinal bleeds. In an urgent advisory sent to consumers, Boston Scientific said that "the aliquot technique is not recommended for lower GI bleed embolization procedures with Obsidio Embolic due to the increased risk to the patient" and called for this information to be posted near the product immediately. (Chang/Hacker, KFF Health News, 4/16; Ingram, MedPage Today, 4/17)

Learn how antitrust laws promote competition, and  how healthcare deals are impacted by antitrust considerations.