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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

May 21, 2024 - Announces a new program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture improving access to nutritious foods for kids during the summer. The program offers a grocery benefit as well as meals served at various community access points. Pick up and delivery meals are available in some rural areas.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
May 21, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is requesting information regarding its Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) investigation and report process for traumatic injuries. NIOSH is interested in how human factors might be considered during investigations, including, but not limited to, communication, team dynamics, psychological stress, and safety culture, and how these factors impact decision-making during responses. Information collected will be used to improve reporting templates and processes to provide a holistic lens into the causes and prevention of line-of-duty deaths (LODD). Comments are due by July 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 21, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Quality Payment Program/Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Surveys and Feedback Collections." This generic clearance will cover surveys and feedback collections designed to obtain data and feedback from MIPS eligible clinicians, third-party intermediaries, Medicare beneficiaries, and any other audiences that would support CMS in improving MIPS or the Quality Payment Program. Comments are due by July 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 21, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing modifications to the organizational structure of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Population Affairs (OPA). OPA is responsible for implementing and administering the Title X family planning program, managing the Office of Adolescent Health, and implementing and administering the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program and other adolescent health activities. The new organizational structure is effective May 14, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 20, 2024 - Discusses the mental health wellness for Georgia healthcare workers following a new law ensuring privacy for healthcare workers participating in an employer-provider wellness program. Notes that maintaining the healthcare workforce is vital for rural communities.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, PBS, NPR
May 20, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) regarding the re-establishment of a matching program between HHS/ACF/OCSS and state agencies administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The matching program compares state SNAP agency records with information maintained in the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) system of records maintained by OCSS. This matching program helps state agencies with establishing or verifying eligibility for applicants and recipients of SNAP benefits, reducing SNAP benefit errors, and maintaining program integrity. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
May 20, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the renewal of charters for several advisory committees, including the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee. The charters are renewed for a two-year period, beginning on the dates listed in this notice.
Source: Federal Register
May 17, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the charter renewal of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The charter renewal is effective for a two-year period, through April 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 17, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) describing a new mandatory Medicare payment model, the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model). The IOTA Model would test whether performance-based incentive payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. This proposed rule also describes standard provisions for CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models relating to beneficiary protections, cooperation in model evaluation and monitoring, audits and records retention, rights in data and intellectual property, monitoring and compliance, and more. These standard provisions would apply to any CMMI model whose first performance period begins on or after January 1, 2025, and in whole or in part to any CMMI model whose first performance period began before January 1, 2025. Comments are due by July 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 17, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration has revoked Emergency Use Authorizations issued to Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., and Fast Track Diagnostics Luxembourg S.รก.r.l. (A Siemens Healthineers Company) related to COVID-19 detection and diagnosis tests.
Source: Federal Register