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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Nov 26, 2024 - The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking comments on a requirement regarding the workflow for credentialing healthcare practitioners working independently, in hospitals, or in clinics to prescribe controlled substances electronically. Comments are due January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 25, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Minimum Data Set 3.0 Nursing Home and Swing Bed Prospective Payment System (PPS) for the collection of data related to the Patient-Driven Payment Model and the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (QRP)." Revisions include four new items as standardized patient assessment data elements, one modified item collected as a standardized patient assessment data element, and twenty-two removed items that are not needed for case-mix adjusting the SNF per diem payment for PDPM. Comments are due by January 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 25, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "SF-271 Outlay Report and Request for Reimbursement for Construction Programs," which is used by grant awardees to report on their construction grant award. Comments are due by January 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 22, 2024 - Announces nearly $52 million for 54 Health Resources & Services Administration-funded health centers for increasing access to primary care for people reentering the community after incarceration. Funding will address health needs including managing chronic conditions, reducing the risk of drug overdose, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and infectious disease prevention, screening, diagnosing, and treatment.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Nov 22, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on updates to the Uniform Data System (UDS) for performance year 2025. Updates include changes to patient-level reporting and tables on selected diagnoses and services rendered, quality of care measures, and health outcomes and disparities. Comments are due by January 21, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 21, 2024 - Announces proposed legislation to reauthorize the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, which funds Critical Access Hospitals.
Source: Office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell
Nov 21, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) amending the amount of loan funding available for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. The maximum amount per award available for Second, Third, and Fourth Quarter application periods has been reduced from $2 million to $1 million.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDL and REDG)
Nov 14, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance amounts for hospital and extended care services provided during calendar year 2025 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). These rates are effective on January 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 14, 2024 - Highlights an initiative to increase vaccination for influenza among Kansas farmworkers. Discusses the increased risk of co-infection with H5N1 bird flu and seasonal influenza as well as the strain seasonal illnesses can place on low-staffed rural hospitals.
Source: KCUR, NPR
Nov 13, 2024 - Outlines current and projected funding challenges for Federally Qualified Health Centers. Discusses common sources of revenue, reimbursement rates, the 340B program, and policy opportunities for federal and state government. Notes that rural residents are a significant user base for Community Health Centers.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund