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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

May 24, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education (APOE) on June 27, 2024, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include remarks from CMS leadership; a recap of the April 2024 meeting; presentations on CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities; and more. Presentations and written comments must be submitted to the designated federal official by June 13, 2024. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
May 24, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application from The Joint Commission for re-approval as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for several specialty and subspecialty laboratories. CMS has re-approved The Joint Commission as an accreditation organization under CLIA and grants deeming authority for 6 years through May 24, 2030.
Source: Federal Register
May 24, 2024 - Notice of direct final rule from the Department of Defense Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) removing certain temporary regulation changes put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that were automatically terminated by the end of the President's national emergency and the associated Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Emergency (PHE). Temporary provisions being removed by this rule include a waiver of the requirement for a three-day prior hospital stay before admission to a skilled nursing facility; waiver of certain acute care hospital requirements for temporary hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers; a waiver of certain interstate and international licensing requirements for individual professional providers; and more. If adverse comments are received, DOD will withdraw this rule and issue a proposed rule. Otherwise, this rule is effective on August 2, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 23, 2024 - A proposed federal bill would add veterinary services to the duties of the Indian Health Service. Discusses the public health risks of rabies and other zoonotic diseases in rural Alaska where veterinary care is often limited.
Source: Alaska Beacon
May 23, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) on June 5-6, 2024. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the PACHA website prior to the meeting. To provide public comment, pre-registration is required by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 23, 2024 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee (ISUDCC) on June 10, 2024, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The ISUDCC agenda will focus on the ISUDCC's recommendations to HHS on how the Federal Government can further integrate and coordinate harm reduction approaches and strategies across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery policies, programs, and practices. Agenda items will also include presentations on the recently released harm reduction framework, the Naloxone Saturation Academies, and SAMHSA's Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit. Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the SAMHSA website.
Source: Federal Register
May 23, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amending its medical regulations to conform with section 101 of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement (Cleland-Dole) Act of 2022, which expanded the provision of hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to World War II (WWII) veterans. The VA is also amending its medical regulations to remove existing references to Mexican border period and World War I (WWI) veterans since there are no longer any living veterans of these eras. This rule is effective May 23, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2024 - The National Advisory Council (NAC) for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will hold a virtual public meeting on June 28-29, 2024. Among other things, agenda items include an update by the AHRQ director, a conversation on the vision for health services research, an update on the Age-Friendly Healthcare Systems Strategic Plan, and discussion on priority populations and maternal health. Information on how to access the meeting and other updates will be posted on the NAC website.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopting a Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, Order, and Order on Reconsideration that reestablishes the FCC's authority over broadband internet access service (BIAS). Among other things, this rule reinstates the telecommunications service classification of BIAS under Title II of the Communications Act, which will enhance the FCC's ability to safeguard national security, advance public safety, protect consumers, and facilitate broadband deployment. This final rule is effective July 22, 2024, except for amendatory instruction 7, which is delayed indefinitely.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comment on an information collection request titled "National Survey of Organ Donation Attitudes and Practices, OMB No. 0915-0290—Revision." The information collected will facilitate appropriate tailoring and targeting of donation outreach messages and strategies, provide an overall assessment of the impact of previous outreach messages and strategies, and inform the development of policy related to organ donation and transplantation. Comments are due by June 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register