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Rural Health
News by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Mar 27, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) ADA Dental Claim Form; and 2) Machine Readable Data for Provider Network and Prescription Formulary Content for FFM QHPs. Comments are due by April 26, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making changes to rates contained within the VA fee schedule, which is used as part of the rate structure for certain agreements the VA uses to purchase community care under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). This notice also describes the VA's use of non-reimbursable codes and industry-standard business practices to ensure consistent adjudication of claims for services deemed non-billable or non-reimbursable. These changes are effective March 27, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 26, 2024 - Summarizes recent research investigating prescription treatment for rural residents with opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Finds that rural residents with dual diagnoses are unlikely to be prescribed medication to treat both disorders.
Source: HealthDay News
Mar 21, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked 6 Emergency Use Authorizations issued to Life Technologies Corp.; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Revvity, Inc.; bioMérieux SA; and Luminex Corp. related to COVID-19 detection and diagnosis tests.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 13, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Ambulatory Surgical Center Conditions for Coverage; 2) Implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan Disenrollment Reasons Survey; and 3) Transitional Pass through payments related to Drugs, Biologicals, and Radiopharmaceuticals to determine eligibility under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System. Comments are due by May 13, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 13, 2024 - Highlights the history of telehealth use by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Describes how access to specialists, behavioral healthcare, and prescription medication in particular has been improved by telehealth. Discusses how rural healthcare access is managed for veterans without reliable internet access.
Source: Cronkite News
Mar 11, 2024 - Notice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing the revocation of one Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued to Eli Lilly and Co. (Lilly) for bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together. The revocation is effective December 14, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 1, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Collection of Prescription Drug Data from MA–PD, PDP and Fallout Plans/Sponsors for Medicare Part D Payments; and 2) Indirect Medical Education and Direct Graduate Medical Education. Comments are due by April 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 22, 2024 - Highlights research being done in Pennsylvania to investigate the impact on rural communities when local pharmacies close. Notes proposed solutions and challenges that still remain.
Source: 90.5 WESA
Feb 21, 2024 - Summarize a recent study finding race disparities in buprenorphine prescribing for in both rural and urban communities. Study examined 2018 prescribing data at the zip code level. Notes that the lack of medical providers for the rural minority communities is the reason for the rural disparity. Also discusses urban disparities trends and the impact these trends have on overdose mortality for various race and ethnicities.
Source: 90.5 WESA