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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Jul 1, 2024 - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on proposed updates to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) – Household and Medical Provider Components (MEPS-HC). Proposed changes include wording changes that will help identify telehealth utilization and access, as well as maintain consistency between Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems 5.1 and MEPS-HC questionnaire items. Comments are due by July 31, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 1, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) implementing the provision of the 21st Century Cures Act specifying that a healthcare provider determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General to have committed information blocking shall be referred to the appropriate agency to be subject to appropriate disincentives. This rule also establishes disincentives for certain healthcare providers that have been determined to have committed information blocking. This rule is effective July 31, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 28, 2024 - The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) seeks comments on the final draft "FY2025-FY2028 NIEHS Strategic Plan: Health at the Intersection of People and Their Environments." Comments are due by July 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 27, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Organ Procurement Organization Histocompatibility Laboratory Cost Report; and 2) Hospice Facility Cost Report Form. Comments are due by August 26, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 27, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the May 10, 2024, final rule titled "Medicaid Program; Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services." The effective date of the Access final rule is July 9, 2024. This notice is effective July 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 26, 2024 - Discusses Pennsylvania legislation which will require public and private insurers to cover telehealth services. Notes the importance of telehealth for ensuring access to healthcare services in rural Pennsylvania, where 15 hospitals have closed in the last 5 years.
Source: The Center Square
Jun 26, 2024 - Provides overview of the City of Grants Pass V. Gloria Johnson case at the U.S. Supreme Court and possible implications for rural homelessness regulations. Notes that many rural Oregon counties have high per capita rates of homelessness but limited resources to support homeless populations.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 25, 2024 - The Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (BSC, NCIPC). BSC, NCIPC consists of up to 18 experts in pertinent disciplines involved in injury and violence prevention, including epidemiology, statistics, trauma surgery, rehabilitation medicine, behavioral science, and health economics. Nominations are due by August 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 25, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Home Health Change of Care Notice." Comments are due by August 26, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 25, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Appointment of Representative and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.910 and 2) Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Fee-For-Service Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey. Comments are due by July 25, 2024.
Source: Federal Register