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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Nov 27, 2024 - 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 2025. This rule also updates the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program, Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and finalizes updates to the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services. Among other things, this rule summarizes comments received in response to an information request on potential modifications to the Safety of Care measure group in the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating methodology. This rule also finalizes 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. The provisions of this rule are effective January 1, 2025. Comments are due by December 31, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - The Department of State (DOS) is seeking information on the degree to which the United States and foreign governments meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons as prescribed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Submitted information will assist with preparing the annual Trafficking in Persons report. DOS requests information related to a basic overview of the issue, prosecution, protection, prevention, territories and semi-autonomous regions, child soldiering, and trafficking profiles including for vulnerable populations such as rural residents. Submissions are due February 3, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement," which is used by grant awardees to request advanced or reimbursed funds for project expenses. Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: fed
Nov 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "SF-429-C Real Property Status Report ATTACHMENT C (Disposition or Encumbrance Request), SF-429-B Real Property Status Report ATTACHMENT B (Request to Acquire, Improve or Furnish), SF-429-A Real Property Status Report ATTACHMENT A (General Reporting), INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-429 Real Property Status Report, and SF-429 Real Property Status Report (Cover Page)," which is used by grant applicants to provide property details as part of grant proposals. Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) and Certification Regarding Lobbying," which is used by grant applicants applying for federal financial assistance. Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Meetings, Conferences, and Seminars—Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities—Funding and Sponsorship," which is used by contractors to provide a plan outlining the ability to meet accessibility standards and provide funding disclosure and content disclaimer statements on conference materials. Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and Federal Financial Report Attachment (SF-425A)," which is used by grant applicants to apply for federal financial assistance Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - The Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requests proposals and recommendations for developing new or modifying existing safe harbor provisions of the Federal anti-kickback statute or Special Fraud Alerts. Criteria for modifying and establishing safe harbor provisions or Special Fraud Alerts include the extent to which the proposal impacts access to healthcare, the ability of healthcare facilities to serve medically underserved patients, and more. Comments are due January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 27, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) describing a new mandatory Medicare payment model, the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model). The IOTA Model would test whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. This proposed rule also describes standard provisions for the Radiation Oncology Model, the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Treatment Choices Model, and mandatory Innovation Center models, including the IOTA Model, whose first performance period begins on or after January 1, 2025. Includes comments regarding rural-specific concerns. This rule is effective 30 days after publication of this notice, which is scheduled for December 4, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 26, 2024 - The U.S. Census Bureau is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on an information collection titled "Generic Clearance for Census Bureau Field Tests and Evaluations." The proposed information collection will allow for researching and evaluating data collection for the 2030 Census to improve efficiency, data quality, and response rates as well as reduce respondent burden. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register