Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
North Dakota Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) Checklist
Provides a checklist for establishing a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in North Dakota. Details the required documentation, policies, and information needed by the state survey team to meet the CAH certification standards.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Provides a checklist for establishing a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in North Dakota. Details the required documentation, policies, and information needed by the state survey team to meet the CAH certification standards.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Nurse Practitioner Race and Ethnicity and Interest in Independent Primary Care Practice and Serving Medicaid Enrollees
Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Amy Quan, Rosalind de Lisser, Timothy Bates, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12)
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Amy Quan, Rosalind de Lisser, Timothy Bates, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12)
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual Draft for Comment
Presents updated policy guidance as to what constitutes the Health Center Program scope of project under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Covers medically underserved populations, special medically underserved populations, and service area; required primary and additional health services; services provided via telehealth; sites; changes in scope of project; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Presents updated policy guidance as to what constitutes the Health Center Program scope of project under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Covers medically underserved populations, special medically underserved populations, and service area; required primary and additional health services; services provided via telehealth; sites; changes in scope of project; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Evaluation of the Impact of the No Surprises Act on Health Care Market Outcomes: Exploring Pre-Implementation Trends - Second Annual Report
Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Updates key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act identified in the First Annual Report, including market consolidation and concentration, out-of-network billing, and potential surprise bills. Describes discussions with healthcare providers, private health plans and issuers, and patients regarding implementation and understanding of the No Surprises Act.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Updates key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act identified in the First Annual Report, including market consolidation and concentration, out-of-network billing, and potential surprise bills. Describes discussions with healthcare providers, private health plans and issuers, and patients regarding implementation and understanding of the No Surprises Act.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Internet Devices and Internet Access Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, North Carolina, 2023
Reports on survey results of 1,034 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina about their access to the internet, internet speed, affordability, access to devices, and awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Presents factors impacting consistent internet access and video capacity.
Author(s): Joseph G. L. Lee, Mary Roby, Roger G. Russell, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 2024
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Reports on survey results of 1,034 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina about their access to the internet, internet speed, affordability, access to devices, and awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Presents factors impacting consistent internet access and video capacity.
Author(s): Joseph G. L. Lee, Mary Roby, Roger G. Russell, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 2024
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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RHC Regulatory Changes in 2025 - Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Updates You Need to Know!
Recording of a November 18, 2024, webinar providing an overview of telehealth payment rates for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and other regulatory updates and potential changes for 2025. Covers Medicare vaccine reimbursement changes, the elimination of productivity standards, lab requirement changes, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, telehealth regulations, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 11/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a November 18, 2024, webinar providing an overview of telehealth payment rates for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and other regulatory updates and potential changes for 2025. Covers Medicare vaccine reimbursement changes, the elimination of productivity standards, lab requirement changes, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, telehealth regulations, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 11/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2024
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2024. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2024. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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January 2025 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, telecommunication services, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, and payment for vaccine costs; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, telecommunication services, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, and payment for vaccine costs; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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