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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

May 10, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establishing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. This rule also requires states to report the percentage of Medicaid payments for certain Medicaid-covered institutional services that are spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. These regulations are effective on June 21, 2024, except for § 483.71, § 483.35(b)(1) and (c)(1), § 483.35(b)(1)(i) and (ii), and §§ 438.72(a) and 442.43 as indicated.
Source: Federal Register
May 10, 2024 - Describes steps taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help reduce the impact of H5N1 on bovines and humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are increasing screening and testing capacity, genomic sequencing, and other interventions to protect the safety of dairy and other food items.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 9, 2024 - Reports on recent legislation to expand the definition of "village" in Alaska in an effort to increase eligibility for infrastructure funding for small communities. Notes how rural is defined, the potential for increased competition for funds, and the need to include rural partners in the discussion.
Source: Alaska Beacon
May 9, 2024 - Notice of final rule and interpretation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising and amending its section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) regulations, which prohibits recipients of financial assistance from HHS from discrimination on the basis of disability in their programs and activities. This notice also summarizes and responds to public comments on the September 14, 2023, proposed rule. This rule is effective July 8, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 9, 2024 - New funding has been allocated to technical colleges by the Wisconsin legislature to address dental healthcare worker shortages across the state, driven primarily by shortages in rural communities.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
May 8, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) modifying the Older Americans Act of 1965 regulations by adding a new subpart D regarding adult protective services (APS). This rule establishes mandatory minimum federal standards to govern APS program policies, procedures, and practices for state APS systems and programs that receive federal Elder Justice Act funding. Among other things, this rule includes definitions for foundational terms used in APS practices and requires state APS entities to define in their policies and procedures processes for receiving, screening, prioritizing, and referring cases based on the risk and nature of the adult maltreatment or self-neglect. This rule is effective on June 7, 2024. Regulated entities must fully comply with these regulations by May 8, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
May 8, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD). The ACD consists of up to 15 experts knowledgeable in areas pertinent to the CDC mission, including public health, global health, health disparities, biomedical research, and other fields as applicable. Nominations are due by June 7, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 8, 2024 - Provides overview of childcare shortages across Michigan and highlights the experiences of rural child care providers. Notes that the most severe shortages are concentrated in rural northern Michigan. Examines challenges related to the current public subsidy system and ongoing workforce shortages.
Source: Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan
May 8, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making several clarifications and updating the definitions used to determine whether a consumer is "lawfully present" in order to be eligible to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through an Exchange; a Basic Health Program (BHP), in states that elect to operate a BHP; and for some state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIPs). This rule includes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens in the definitions of "lawfully present" for purposes of eligibility for these insurance affordability programs. These regulations are effective November 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 8, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) is seeking public comments on potential viral hepatitis quality measures for implementation at the state and territory level. Specifically, HHS requests comments on the clinical significance, usability, feasibility, and likely uptake of hepatitis C screening and hepatitis C treatment initiation quality measures, as well as recommendations on other feasible viral hepatitis measures. Comments are due by June 7, 2024.
Source: Federal Register