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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Mar 18, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Disclosure Requirement for the In-Office Ancillary Services Exception." CMS will use the information collected to enforce the requirement that physicians who provide certain imaging services (MRI, CT, and PET) under the in-office ancillary services exception to the physician self-referral prohibition must provide the disclosure notice as well as the list of other imaging suppliers to the patient. Comments are due by May 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 16, 2024 - Discusses uptake of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation that aims to prevent hospital closures. Notes that conversions have happened primarily in the South. Discusses challenges with implementation, community feedback, and policy efforts to make the designation more accessible to rural hospitals.
Source: NBC4 Washington
Mar 14, 2024 - Offers highlights from a recent Committee on Ways and Means hearing discussing the benefits of receiving healthcare at home. Notes issues such as quality of life, social networks, rural access to care, technology and telehealth, decreasing emergency room visits, and Medicare barriers to care.
Source: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means
Mar 14, 2024 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation aiming to reduce burdens on rural Medicare patients seeking healthcare in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The bill expands the ability of Medicare beneficiaries to be assigned to an ACO by allowing assignments based on primary care visits performed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or clinical nurse specialists.
Source: Office of Representative Suzan DelBene
Mar 14, 2024 - Summarizes a recent study investigating the impact of billing models for telehealth for palliative care on rural caregivers, healthcare teams, and patients. Discusses finding strategies for healthcare workers that engage with family caregivers in ways that are reimbursable.
Source: Mayo Clinic News Network
Mar 13, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Ambulatory Surgical Center Conditions for Coverage; 2) Implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan Disenrollment Reasons Survey; and 3) Transitional Pass through payments related to Drugs, Biologicals, and Radiopharmaceuticals to determine eligibility under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System. Comments are due by May 13, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 7, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comment on an information collection to support eligibility determinations for insurance affordability programs and enrollment through Health Benefits Exchanges, Medicaid, and CHIP Agencies. Comments are due by May 6, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 7, 2024 - Highlights the use of telemedicine in ambulances in an effort to improve health outcomes for patients being transported long distances to receive emergency care. Discusses loss of ambulance and hospital services in addition to limited specialty care in rural communities. Describes implementation in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Source: MPR News
Mar 7, 2024 - Reports on financial struggles for rural hospitals across the country leading to department and facility closures and many more at risk of closure. Highlights common rural health disparities and notes the impact of closures on rural communities. Discusses the impact of various policies on rural hospitals including Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement as well as the Rural Emergency Hospital designation.
Source: KFF Health News
Mar 6, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application from COLA for re-approval as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for several specialty and subspecialty laboratories. CMS has re-approved COLA as an accreditation organization under CLIA and grants deeming authority for 6 years through March 6, 2030.
Source: Federal Register