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Rural Health Information Hub

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Rural Health
News by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Jun 12, 2019 - Rural hospitals are using savings from the 340B drug pricing program to remain open and provide care for the underserved, according to a new report surveying more than 1,300 hospitals. Other uses include providing services such as transportation and reducing preventable readmissions.
Source: 340B Health
Jun 7, 2019 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting technical and typographical errors in the rule published April 16, 2019. The corrections are effective as if they had been included in the April 16, 2019 notice. The original notice increased access to telehealth services for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, changed how star ratings are calculated, and more.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 5, 2019 - Vermont is exploring rural access to opioid-abuse prevention and treatment as part of a federal planning grant. Some of the stories they uncovered reveal challenges in accessing treatment due to a lack of knowledge of addiction, lack of awareness of services or distance to them, and lack of transportation for getting to treatment.
Source: Seven Days
Jun 3, 2019 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces a virtual meeting on June 12, 2019 of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which is required to develop an action plan for preventing opioid addictions and improving access to Medication-Assisted Treatment under Medicare and Medicaid under the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. The meeting will focus on service delivery models, payment and coverage policies for chronic and acute pain, and access to medical devices and therapy.
Source: Federal Register
May 23, 2019 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on a final rule amending Medicare Advantage regulations and the Prescription Drug Benefit program regulations to help reduce out-of-pocket costs and lower drug prices. The regulations will take effect January 1, 2020.
Source: Federal Register
May 13, 2019 - Data analysis in Connecticut shows that only 10 small towns in the state have not had a death from an opioid overdose in the last 4 years. The reasons for their addictions often stem from prescriptions that became an addiction, particularly in the Appalachian Valley. Article includes data on deaths by county and city for 2015-2018.
Source: Government Technology
May 10, 2019 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would require television advertisements of prescription drugs and biological products for which payment is available through Medicare or Medicaid to include the list price of the product to help beneficiaries make informed decisions and reduce costs. The rule will go into effect July 9, 2019.
Source: Federal Register
May 10, 2019 - A documentary from University of Wisconsin-Madison describes four main obstacles to rural healthcare access in the state. These challenges include: long distances between rural residents and healthcare services, shortages of pharmacists and mental health providers, stigma around mental health challenges, and difficulties recruiting and retaining physicians and nurses.
Source: Milwaukee Independent
May 9, 2019 - The Health Resources and Services (HRSA) requests comments on a revised information collection related to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The forms will be completely online and some forms are being revised, with one clarification and a few additional changes to help HRSA determine entity eligibility. Comments are due July 8, 2019.
Source: Federal Register
May 7, 2019 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid of a final rule revising the appeals process for claim benefits under Medicare Part A and B and for prescription drug coverage under Part D. The regulations will go into effect July 8, 2019.
Source: Federal Register