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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Nov 4, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a proposed information collection project titled "National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)." NHSN is used to track healthcare-associated infections and the extent to which healthcare facilities adhere to infection prevention practices and antimicrobial stewardship. The proposed changes in this information collection request include revisions to 74 existing data collection forms and 10 new forms. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 4, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to revise the weight of Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) performance indicators. Proposed changes will emphasize the importance of occupancy, financial condition, and physical assessments, with scoring indicators being based on measurable program outcomes and data already available to HUD. These proposed revisions will allow HUD to respond more quickly to performance deficiencies and intervene based on trending performance data. Includes considerations for small rural public housing agencies. Comments on the proposed rule are due January 3, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 4, 2024 - Highlights dangerous and often fatal grain bin accidents in agricultural work. Discusses strategies to avoid incidents including a Midwest-focused prevention program by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Source: WNIJ, Harvest Public Media
Nov 1, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) seeking comments to inform how federal agencies can support broader state and local efforts to improve the outcomes of children in the child welfare system who are eligible for federal benefits. Information collected will be used to inform decisions about possible future policy changes or additional guidance. Comments are due by December 2, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 1, 2024 - Announcement of new policies included in the 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center final rule. Describes updated health and safety requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to improve and expand access to quality maternal and behavioral health care. Notes policy changes including updated payment rates, staffing standards, quality assessments, training requirements, and expanded coverage for services provided outside the "four walls" of behavioral health clinics and clinics located in rural areas.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announcing a virtual meeting to discuss the implementation of an Executive Order to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Safety Program on November 15, 2024. Agenda topics will include recent AI-related analyses from the Network of Patient Safety Databases (NPSD), available program resources, and speakers from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Coalition for Health AI. Active participation and discussion by meeting participants is encouraged. Interested persons send an email to SDMeetings@infinityconferences.com for registration information.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) making access and parity improvements in USDA's food distribution programs to support access for eligible populations and streamline requirements for program operators. Among other things, changes are aimed at increasing access to food distribution programs so eligible individuals can more easily receive the nutrition resources they need, increasing parity between FDPIR and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), modernizing program operations by updating some outdated terminology and processes, and incorporating lessons learned from implementing these critical programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rule is effective December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) making corrections to the August 21, 2024, final rule. These corrections are effective October 31, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Jurisdictional Survey Instrument for the Title V MCH Block Grant Program, OMB No. 0906-0042—Revision." The MCH Jurisdictional Survey is designed to produce data on the physical and emotional health of mothers and children under 18 years of age in the following eight jurisdictions—American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Proposed revisions include further updates to survey questions to align with new Federal data standards, including updated guidance from OMB on collecting information on race and ethnicity. Comments are due by December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 30, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau allowing an additional 30 days for comments on Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC). Information collected by ASEC includes work experience, personal income, noncash benefits, current and previous year health insurance coverage, employer-sponsored insurance take-up, migration, and more. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register