Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Public Inspection: EBSA, HHS, IRS: Enhancing Coverage of Preventive Services under the Affordable Care Act
Federal Register
Jan 14, 2025 - Pre-publication notice from the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdrawing the October 28, 2024, notice of proposed rulemaking regarding coverage of certain preventive services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires non-grandfathered group health plans and non-grandfathered group or individual health insurance coverage to cover certain contraceptive services without cost sharing. This withdrawal is effective upon publication of this notice, which is scheduled for January 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 14, 2025 - Request for input regarding barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Topics of interest include business decisions impacting participation for different organization types, streamlining models, and incentivizing participation for both primary and specialty care. Asks for feedback regarding types of organizations best positioned to serve rural and other communities. Comments can be emailed to PTAC@HHS.gov by February 7, 2025.
Source: Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Jan 13, 2025 - Discusses the factors contributing to a growing shortage of primary care doctors across the nation and efforts by medical schools to encourage students to pursue a career in primary care. Highlights a University of Washington program which has shown success in funneling primary care graduates to rural communities.
Source: KFF Health News
Jan 13, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographic corrections to the November 27, 2024, final rule. This correcting amendment is effective January 8, 2025, and is applicable beginning January 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From The Joint Commission for Continued Approval of its Hospice Accreditation Program
Federal Register
Jan 13, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of The Joint Commission as a national accrediting organization for hospices that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by February 12, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 13, 2025 - Announces a new mobile clinic bringing primary care services to rural Nevada. The new mobile unit expands on an existing mobile healthcare program offering mammography services.
Source: 2 News Nevada
Jan 13, 2025 - Highlights a new report on mental healthcare awareness among and access for veterans in New York. Discusses reductions in stigma, rural community focused networks, rural culture, and telehealth.
Source: North Country Public Radio
Jan 13, 2025 - Outlines the findings of a new study on the relationship between opioid use and homelessness in rural populations. Discusses the difficulty of accurately counting the number of homeless individuals in rural areas, and how this can lead to inadequate allocations of funding and resources.
Source: Georgia State University News
Jan 10, 2025 - Analyzes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data to discuss alcohol habits by region and rurality. Notes the challenges with measuring alcohol habits in surveys relying on self-reported health measures.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 9, 2025 - Discusses stigma and the gaps in support for people who are both homeless and drug users in a rural Missouri community.
Source: Public News Service