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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Apr 4, 2024 - Announces an increase in loan repayment amounts available through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Notes the program aims to reduce primary care provider shortages in rural and other areas. Also highlights previous work to support the primary care workforce.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Apr 4, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part A Internet Claim (iClaim) Application Screen Modernized Claims System and Consolidated Claim Experience Screens and 2) CAHPS Hospice Survey. Comments are due by June 3, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 4, 2024 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2025. Includes proposals regarding changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program; the adoption of the most recent Office of Management and Budget statistical area delineations, which would change the hospice wage index; clarifications to current policy related to the "election statement" and the "notice of election;" and clarifying language regarding hospice certification. Among other things, this rule seeks comments regarding the potential implementation of a separate payment mechanism to account for high-intensity palliative care services. Includes rural considerations throughout. Comments are due by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 4, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking comments on the practical and policy issues related to the implementation of regulations regarding covered cyber incident and ransom payment reporting requirements for covered entities, as required by the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA). Includes rural references throughout and encourages comments regarding the impact of proposed requirements on small entities. Comments are due by June 3, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 4, 2024 - Highlights Montana's Digital Opportunity Plan that aims to close digital gaps for rural residents, older adults, veterans, tribal members, and more. Discusses funding needs and collaboration with healthcare providers and community organizations.
Source: KTVH
Apr 3, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2025 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Includes proposed revisions to the patient-level adjustment factors, the Emergency Department adjustment, and the payment amount for electroconvulsive therapy; and seeks to adopt a new quality measure and modify reporting requirements under the IPF Quality Reporting Program beginning with the FY 2027 payment determination. Seeks comments regarding potential future revisions to the IPF prospective payment system (PPS) facility-level adjustments and the development of a standardized IPF Patient Assessment Instrument. Comments are due by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 3, 2024 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would update the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2025. Includes proposals to rebase and revise the SNF market basket to reflect a 2022 base year; update the wage index used under the SNF PPS to reflect data collected during the most recent decennial census; technical revisions to the code mappings used to classify patients under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to improve payment and coding accuracy; and update the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. Among other things, this rule also includes proposals to strengthen nursing home enforcement requirements. Comments are due by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 3, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announcing that it will not be funding applications for Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program for fiscal year 2024. RBS issued a notice of solicitation of applications on January 2, 2024, subject to the availability of funding, but did not receive the anticipated appropriations. Any applications submitted to date will not be funded through the RISE program.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 3, 2024 - Notice of final rules from the Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amending the definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance, which is excluded from the definition of individual health insurance coverage under the Public Health Service Act. This notice also amends the regulations for hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance to be considered an excepted benefit in the group and individual health insurance markets. These regulations are effective June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 3, 2024 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, to increase preparedness for rural hospitals and doctors in emergency obstetric care. The legislation would create training programs, offer grants, and develop pilot telehealth services. Also describes other healthcare related legislation.
Source: Office of Senator Katie Britt