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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Apr 19, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is seeking comments from language access stakeholders, including organizations representing and/or serving communities with limited English proficiency (LEP), to inform the development and implementation of a universal symbol informing people about the availability of language assistance services in healthcare settings. Comments are due by May 20, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 19, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) revising the 340B Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to address policy and operational challenges to the implementation of the December 14, 2020, final rule. Among other things, revisions intend to make 340B ADR process more accessible, administratively feasible, and timely, and require that the 340B ADR Panel members have specific knowledge of the authorizing statute and the operational processes of the 340B Program. This rule is effective June 18, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 19, 2024 - The National Advisory Council on Migrant Health (NACMH) will hold a virtual public meeting on May 15-16, 2024. Agenda items include discussions on topics related to migratory and seasonal agricultural worker health. Meeting information will be published on the NACMH website. Requests for public comment should be sent to the Designated Federal Official at least 3 business days before the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 19, 2024 - The National Council on Disability will hold a virtual quarterly business meeting on May 9, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include reports from the Executive Committee and Chair, policy updates, policy proposals for fiscal year 2025, a presentation by the Intertribal Disability Advisory Council (IDAC) on living with a disability on tribal lands, a public comment session focused on public facilities and public transportation, and Council Member training on National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 19, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Social Security Administration (SSA) expanding the definition of a public assistance household for purposes of SSA programs to include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as an additional means-tested public income-maintenance (PIM) program. Among other things, this rule also revises the definition of a public assistance household from a household in which every member receives some kind of PIM payment to a household that has both an SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who receives one or more of the listed PIM payments. This rule is effective September 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 18, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) revising regulations governing the WIC food packages. The revisions align the WIC food package regulations with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and reflect recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) in its 2017 report, "Review of WIC Food Packages: Improving Balance and Choice" while promoting nutrition security and equity. Among other things, this rule intends to provide WIC participants with a wider variety of foods that align with the latest nutritional science; provide WIC State agencies with greater flexibility to prescribe and tailor food packages that accommodate participants' special dietary needs and personal and cultural food preferences; provide foods in amounts that are more consistent with the supplemental nature of the Program; and strengthen support for individual breastfeeding goals to help establish successful long-term breastfeeding. This rule is effective June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 18, 2024 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting on April 30-May 1, 2024. Agenda items include updates from VA leadership, the Executive Director of the VA Office of Rural Health, and the Committee Chair, as well as presentations on general rural healthcare access.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 17, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection titled "Skilled Nursing Facility and Skilled Nursing Facility Complex Cost Report." The information collected will be used to determine the cost weights for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) market basket, conduct payment adequacy analyses, and determine reasonable costs. Comments are due by May 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 17, 2024 - Executive Order from the Office of the President revoking three executive orders related to COVID-19 – Executive Order 13910 of March 23, 2020, Executive Order 13991 of January 20, 2021, and Executive Order 13998 of January 21, 2021. This order also transfers the responsibilities of the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President to the Director of the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR) and terminates the COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response positions.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 16, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." The information collected will be used by CMS, state survey agencies, and long-term care (LTC) facilities to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements and quality of care provided to LTC residents. Revisions include new requirements proposed at 42 CFR 483.35 and new section 483.71, which were discussed in the September 6, 2023, proposed rule on page 61391. Comments are due by June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register