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Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

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 - Announces proposed legislation to require hospital systems either closing or eliminating services to notify the Department of Health and Human Services as well as develop with the public a plan for continuing accessible care for patients. The bill would also require annual Congressional reports on hospital closure trends and capacity for surge demand.
Source: Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin
Jul 24, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) that seeks to advance interoperability, improve transparency, and support the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information. This rule proposes establishing a new baseline version of the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) and updating the ONC Health IT Certification Program to enhance interoperability and optimize certification processes. The proposed rule would also implement certain provisions related to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which would support the reliability, privacy, security, and trust within TEFCA. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for August 5, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
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 16, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families to amend the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations to allow all Indian tribes and tribal organizations operating CCDF program to establish eligibility criteria regardless of family income. Comments on the proposed rule are due September 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2024 - Outlines new investment by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support the creation of a multi-state licensure compact, allowing social workers to practice across state lines without applying for multiple licenses. Notes the potential impacts of the licensure compact on rural communities by easing provider shortages and expanding telehealth service availability.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jul 15, 2024 - Announces new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy for assessing the risk of pesticide drift and associated health risks for farmworkers and the general public. Notes that the new policy will require pesticide drift analysis to be conducted during the initial product registration process, rather than only during registration review.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jul 12, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposing to amend the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations to establish and use eligibility criteria regardless of family income. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for July 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 11, 2024 - Describes the effect the federal mandate on nursing home staffing is likely to have on nursing homes in Oklahoma. The rule would require Oklahoma to hire more than 1,200 full-time employees, including 538 nurse aides and 715 RNs over the 5 years the rule is phased in, and is seen as a particular threat to rural nursing homes.
Source: KOSU
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