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Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Feb 12, 2024 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs from February 27-29, 2024. The Committee will provide advice and guidance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Native American Veterans. The agenda will include, among other things, updates on the Native American Direct Loan Program; homeless programs; Choctaw Nation Behavioral Health/VA Staff Sergeant Fox Grant for suicide prevention, family counseling, women's domestic violence program; the Tribal Veteran Service Officer Representation Expansion Project; Reimbursement Agreement Program/Tribal Health Programs/Purchase Referred Care expansion; claims clinic events in Indian Country; and the VA Office of Connected Care.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 8, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aiming to improve the electronic exchange of healthcare data and streamline processes related to prior authorization through new requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, state Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) programs, state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) FFS programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan issuers on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges. This final rule will also add new measures for eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to report under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians to report under the MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category. These regulations are effective April 8, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 7, 2024 - Interviews a midwife offering services in a rural Minnesota community with a labor and delivery department closure. Discusses the planning required to travel multiple hours in order to give birth, insurance considerations, and home birth as a solution for limited access to care.
Source: MPR News
Feb 6, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on a revision of an information collection request titled "Implementation of Medicare Programs;—Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program." Revisions reflect changes for eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that attest to CMS under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program finalized in the Fiscal Year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS)/Long-term Care Hospital PPS final rule. Comments are due by March 7, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 6, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for psychiatric hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by March 7, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 6, 2024 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs from February 27-29, 2024. The Committee will provide advice and guidance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Native American Veterans. The agenda will include, among other things, updates on the Native American Direct Loan Program; homeless programs; Choctaw Nation Behavioral Health/VA Staff Sergeant Fox Grant for suicide prevention, family counseling, women's domestic violence program; the Tribal Veteran Service Officer Representation Expansion Project; Reimbursement Agreement Program/Tribal Health Programs/Purchase Referred Care expansion; claims clinic events in Indian Country; and the VA Office of Connected Care.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 5, 2024 - Describes the impact of a Georgia tax credit initiative on rural hospitals. Notes the enhanced equipment, facility upgrades, and expanded services made available by the tax credit. The program allows taxpayers to choose the qualifying rural hospital that receives their dollars.
Source: Albany Herald
Feb 2, 2024 - Announces new legislation to increase Medicare reimbursements for rural hospitals in Hawaii and Alaska performing outpatient procedures for older adults. The legislation is meant to recognize the higher costs of living in Alaska and Hawaii and ensure continued access to care for the older adults living in those areas.
Source: Office of Senator Lisa Murkowski
Feb 2, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) modifying and updating certain regulatory provisions related to opioid treatment program (OTP) accreditation, certification, and standards for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). These changes include making flexibilities established during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) permanent and expanding access to care and evidence-based treatment for OUD. This rule also removes all language and rules relating to the Drug Addiction and Treatment Act (DATA) Waiver from the regulations pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. This rule is effective April 2, 2024, and the compliance date is April 2, 2026.
Source: Federal Register