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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Dec 17, 2024 - Notice from the Indian Health Service (IHS) proposing to expand the geographic boundaries of the Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area (PRCDA) for the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation to include Cascade County, Montana. Comments are due by January 16, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking nominations to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Specific areas of expertise being sought include public health, health equity and the reduction of health disparities, application of science to health policy, decision modeling, dissemination and implementation, behavioral medicine and clinical health psychology, and communication of scientific findings to diverse audiences. Nominations of individuals with training and expertise in family medicine, pediatrics, behavioral medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology will receive the strongest consideration. Nominations are due by March 15th of a given year to be considered for appointment to begin in January of the following year.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announcing the approval of an information collection related to the 2022 Second Report and Order and 2023 Report and Order. Changes to amendatory instruction 3, published in the February 15, 2023, final rule, and amendatory instruction 4, published in the January 16, 2024, final rule, are effective April 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) that seeks to advance interoperability, improve transparency, and support the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information. This final rule amends the information blocking regulations by including definitions related to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Manner Exception and corrects and updates current regulatory provisions of the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The rule also implements certain provisions related to TEFCA, which would support the reliability, privacy, security, and trust within TEFCA. This rule is effective January 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - Notice from the Indian Health Service (IHS) announcing the calendar year 2025 reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient medical care provided by IHS facilities to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal program beneficiaries. The updated rates apply to all qualifying services provided on or after January 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) seeking comments on Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) application forms and project proposal requirements. Information collected will be used to determine applicant eligibility, project eligibility and technical merit, ensure that grantees operate on a sound basis and use funds for authorized purposes. Comments are due by January 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 13, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a new data collection will help CDC to better understand the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), positive childhood experiences (PCEs), social determinants of health (SDOH), and health outcomes among young adults from populations that have been socially and economically marginalized. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 13, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the implementation of the 5G Fund for Rural America (5G Fund) to support the build out of advanced, 5G mobile wireless broadband networks for those who live, work, and travel in rural areas. Discusses the identification of areas that will be eligible for 5G Fund support, the 5G Fund budget, the acceptance of bids and identification of winning bids, compliance with 5G Fund public interest obligations and performance requirements, the promotion of digital equity and inclusion, and more. This rule is effective January 13, 2025. The compliance date for §§ 54.322(b), 54.322(g), 54.322(h), 54.322(i), 54.322(j), 54.1014(a), 54.1014(b)(2), 54.1018(a), 54.1018(b), 54.1018(c), 54.1018(d), 54.1019(a)(1), 54.1019(a)(2), 54.1019(a)(3), 54.1019(b), 54.1022(b), and 54.1022(f) will be announced in a future document published in the Federal Register.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 13, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopting updated versions of the retail pharmacy standards for electronic transactions adopted under the Administrative Simplification subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These updated versions are modifications to the currently adopted standards for the following retail pharmacy transactions: healthcare claims or equivalent encounter information; eligibility for a health plan; referral certification and authorization; and coordination of benefits. This final rule also adopts a modification to the standard for the Medicaid pharmacy subrogation transaction. This rule is effective February 11, 2025. Compliance with this rule is required by February 11, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 13, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health on January 16, 2025, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The meeting will discuss finalizing recommendations on the implementation of the updated Office of Management and Budget (OMB) federal race and ethnicity data collection standards, with a focus on opportunities for engagement with racial, ethnic, and tribal community-level organizations to support increased awareness of the race and ethnicity data collection standards and their intended goals within their communities. Registration is required by January 14, 2025.
Source: Federal Register