Rural Health
News by Topic: Hospitals
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
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 10, 2024 - Grove Hill Memorial Hospital in Clarke County and East Alabama Medical Center-Lanier in Chambers County plan to convert to Rural Emergency Hospital status. This will mean closure of one of the last birthing units in rural south Alabama.
Source: AL.com
Jul 8, 2024 - Discusses challenges faced by Maine rural hospitals and describes facilities' creative solutions to staffing shortages, reduced reimbursements, and lower margins. Includes statistics on operating margins at select Maine hospitals.
Source: Mainebiz
Jul 3, 2024 - Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders along with the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced funding through the Rural Hospital Sustainability Program. The initiative is designed to strengthen rural communities, serve patients, promote economic development, and preserve access to healthcare.
Source: K8 News
Jul 2, 2024 - A policy brief from the National Rural Health Association notes that cyberattacks at healthcare facilities have increased more than 125% since 2023. Rural hospitals typically have an older IT infrastructure and inadequate IT staffing, which makes them particularly vulnerable. Microsoft and Google are offering free or discounted services to rural hospitals to help them prevent cyberattacks.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 28, 2024 - Explores the Three Sisters Rural Track Program, which is a three-year family medicine program serving Central Oregon. Details the program's efforts to locate graduates from Oregon Health & Science University into residency positions at rural hospitals in Central Oregon with the aim of increasing rural physician retention.
Source: MyCentralOregon.com