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Rural Hospitals – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

Nov 22, 2023 - Notice of final rule with comment period from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2024. This rule also updates and refines the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and the Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program and would establish payment for certain intensive outpatient services under Medicare. Among other things, this notice also makes changes to the community mental health center (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) to provide requirements for furnishing intensive outpatient (IOP) services and finalizes a technical correction to the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Conditions of Participation and outlines a payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals that convert to REH status. These regulations are effective on January 1, 2024. Comments are due by January 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 18, 2023 - The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), are seeking comments on a national, all-hazards standardized set of essential elements of information (EEIs) and vendor-neutral data collection mechanisms for hospital data that drive action for emergency preparedness and response. The information collected will inform efforts to provide recommendations for a standardized lens into the readiness of, stress on, and resources available in hospitals before, during, and after emergencies. Comments are due by December 18, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 13, 2023 - Highlights presentations and discussions at an event at Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, North Carolina, devoted to challenges faced by healthcare providers in rural North Carolina communities. Topics included lack of transportation, provider shortages, lack of high-speed internet, and hospital closures.
Source: North Carolina Health News

Last Updated: 11/9/2023