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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Hospitals

Dec 5, 2023 - Announcement of proposed legislation to expand the eligibility requirements of Rural Emergency Hospitals. Legislation would allow closed hospitals to reopen if they met the eligibility requirements between January 2015 and December 2020.
Source: Office of Senator Jerry Moran
Nov 24, 2023 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance); 2) National Implementation of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey; 3) CMS Health Equity Award—Call for Nominations; and 4) Withholding Medicare Payments to Recover Medicaid Overpayments and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 447.31. Comments are due by December 26, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 22, 2023 - Notice of final rule with comment period 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 2024. This rule also updates and refines the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and the Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program and would establish payment for certain intensive outpatient services under Medicare. Among other things, this notice also makes changes to the community mental health center (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) to provide requirements for furnishing intensive outpatient (IOP) services and finalizes a technical correction to the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Conditions of Participation and outlines a payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals that convert to REH status. These regulations are effective on January 1, 2024. Comments are due by January 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 22, 2023 - Planned hospitals in the Texas Panhandle will increase access to mental healthcare, including inpatient care, for rural residents. Describes current distance to care for residents and the impact on the local criminal justice system. Highlights local efforts to improve the mental health of the residents and the gaps the hospitals will fill.
Source: The Texas Tribune
Nov 14, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the revision of an information collection request titled "Implementation of Medicare Programs;—Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program" reflecting changes outlined in the FY 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS)/Long-term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) final rule. Comments are due by January 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 9, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services making technical corrections to the August 28, 2023 final rule with the same title. The corrections are applicable for discharges beginning October 1, 2023. This notice is effective November 9, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 27, 2023 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) informing and reminding stakeholders of the registration requirements for off-site, outpatient hospital facilities to participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program (340B Program). Specifically, this notice clarifies that HRSA is ending the COVID-19-related waiver that allowed hospitals to rapidly adjust their operations and locations for providing care off-site while maintaining immediate access to the 340B Program resources. In addition, this notice outlines a transition period for covered entities to come into compliance with the off-site, outpatient facility registration requirements.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 23, 2023 - Summarizes a presentation on research finding disparities in some hospital-related outcomes for Black and rural patients. Rural residents are more likely to get infections and Black rural patients are at the highest risk for ICU admission and death. Notes that further research is needed to better understand these disparities.
Source: Healio
Oct 18, 2023 - The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), are seeking comments on a national, all-hazards standardized set of essential elements of information (EEIs) and vendor-neutral data collection mechanisms for hospital data that drive action for emergency preparedness and response. The information collected will inform efforts to provide recommendations for a standardized lens into the readiness of, stress on, and resources available in hospitals before, during, and after emergencies. Comments are due by December 18, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 17, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance amounts for hospital and extended care services provided during calendar year 2024 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). These rates are effective on January 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register