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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Jan 3, 2025 - Describes new bipartisan legislation improving access to healthcare for veterans related to healthcare at home, benefits for surviving spouses, mental health support for family caregivers, mammography, and more. Includes a pilot program for assisted living services for rural and other veterans.
Source: Office of Senator Maggie Hassan
Jan 3, 2025 - Describes the economic and workforce impacts of widespread childcare shortages and efforts by state lawmakers to support providers. Highlights legislative efforts to support growth in rural child care capacity, including a Nebraska grant program that supports the provision of child care services in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Source: Stateline
Jan 3, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposing changes to its medical regulations to exempt Whole Health well-being services from the copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. Comments are due by March 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 2, 2025 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for appointment to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Appointments are effective May 2025. Letters of nomination and resumes are due by January 28, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 31, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopting the November 1, 2024, Report and Order regarding the continued support for the advancement of modern mobile and fixed broadband service in Alaska. The FCC moves forward with establishing the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF) program to provide ongoing and certain support to both mobile and fixed carriers receiving Universal Service Fund high-cost support in Alaska through 2034. This final rule is effective January 30, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the October 15, 2024, final rule. This notice is effective December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2024 - Notice from the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdrawing the February 2, 2023, notice of proposed rulemaking regarding coverage of certain preventive services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires non-grandfathered group health plans and non-grandfathered group or individual health insurance coverage to cover certain contraceptive services without cost sharing. This withdrawal is effective December 23, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) announces the dates for public meetings of the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) to be held throughout the 2025 calendar year.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on updating the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program's method of determining an eligible children's hospital weighted allopathic and osteopathic full-time equivalent (FTE) resident count when it exceeds its direct graduate medical education (GME) FTE resident cap. Comments are due by January 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2024 - Notice from the Indian Health Service amending the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority to reflect the reorganization of the IHS Office of the Office of Quality.
Source: Federal Register