Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register
Jul 25, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the revision of an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." Revisions reflect new requirements outlined in the May 10, 2024, final rule titled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting." Comments are due by August 26, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 25, 2024 - Features a joint program run by the Kansas Health Science University and the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine offering medical students rotation opportunities in rural southwest Kansas. Discusses ongoing healthcare provider shortages in rural Kansas and recruitment strategies used by hospitals, such as highlighting diverse patient populations and the wide scope of rural physician practice.
Source: High Plains Public Radio
Jul 22, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2025. This proposed rule would also update and refine the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program, ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and proposes Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services. Among other things, this rule would request information on options being considered for future changes to the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating methodology and further information related to a Tribal Technical Advisory Group request to apply the Indian Health Service encounter rate to all outpatient tribal clinics. This proposed rule would also provide exceptions to the Medicaid clinic services benefit four walls requirement for Indian Health Service and Tribal clinics, and, at state option, for behavioral health clinics and clinics located in rural areas. Comments are due by September 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 18, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the approval of The Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Ambulatory Surgical Centers that wish to participate in Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is effective September 1, 2024 - September 1, 2030.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application by DNV Healthcare USA Inc. for Continued CMS Approval of Its Psychiatric Hospital Accreditation Program
Federal Register
Jul 16, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for psychiatric hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This accreditation is effective July 30, 2024 - July 30, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment Meeting-August 26-27, 2024
Federal Register
Jul 15, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will
hold a virtual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital
Outpatient Payment on August 26-27, 2024. The purpose of
the Panel is to advise the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services and the Administrator of CMS
concerning the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification groups and their associated weights, as well
as supervision of hospital outpatient therapeutic services.
The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will
be posted on the
Panel's website. Presentations and comment letters are
due by August 2, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 15, 2024 - Highlights declines in birth rates across time and the associated impact on rural labor and delivery services. Discusses the impact of low service volume on maintaining labor and delivery services and offering high quality healthcare.
Source: KFF Health News, NPR
Jul 11, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed calendar year 2025 physician fee schedule rule includes new payments and coverage for digital health and telehealth services.
The draft rule contains significant provisions for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers and gives opioid treatment programs more flexibility in their use of telehealth services.
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Jul 11, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing: 1) changes to the Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B payment policies; 2) policies for the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; 3) updates to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model; payment for dental services inextricably linked to specific covered medical services; 4) updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B including immunosuppressive drugs and clotting factors; 5) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 6) updates to the Quality Payment Program; 7) Medicare coverage of opioid use disorder services furnished by opioid treatment programs; 8) updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); 9) electronic prescribing for controlled substances for a covered Part D drug under a prescription drug plan or an MA-PD plan; 10) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; 11) updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; 12) updates to the diabetes payment structure and COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) flexibilities; 13) expansion of colorectal cancer screening and Hepatitis B vaccine coverage and payment; 14) establishing payment for drugs covered as additional preventive services; and 15) Medicare Parts A and B Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Comments are due by September 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2024 - A new telehealth study done by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Connected Nation Michigan provides insights into how tribal members use telehealth, what barriers exist, and attitudes toward telehealth. The study identifies ways tribal health clinics can expand telehealth efforts, identifies unmet demand, and addresses concerns that may prevent tribe members from adopting telehealth services.
Source: Connected Nation