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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

May 16, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Prior Authorization Process and Requirements for Certain Hospital Outpatient Department (OPD) Services." CMS requires prior authorization for certain covered OPD services as a condition of Medicare payment to help to reduce unnecessary utilization and payments for these services. Comments are due by June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 16, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for certain medical devices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These authorizations are effective on their date of issuance.
Source: Federal Register
May 16, 2024 - The Senate Finance Committee heard from hospital leaders and healthcare experts, with the goal of finding ways to help rural hospitals find funding to stay open. Senator Ron Wyden and others said the issue is complicated and requires a multi-pronged approach. Discussion included the need for maternity care in rural hospitals.
Source: Oregon Capital Chronicle
May 15, 2024 - Announcement of public meetings of the Advisory Committee on Training and Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) to take place throughout the 2024 calendar year. Meetings will be held on August 1-2, 2024, and at a later date that will be announced at least 30 days in advance. Information on how to join the meetings, agenda items, and other updates will be posted on the ACTPCMD website.
Source: Federal Register
May 15, 2024 - Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Tina Smith of Minnesota introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act, which would expand access to federal resources for rural hospitals. The legislation would increase opportunities for Critical Access Hospitals and rural hospitals to convert to Rural Emergency Hospital status.
Source: Office of Senator Jerry Moran
May 14, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Fast Track Appeals Notices: NOMNC/DENC." Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), home health agencies (HHAs), comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs), and hospices must provide notice to all beneficiaries/enrollees whose Medicare-covered services are ending no later than two days in advance of the proposed termination of service via the Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC). Comments are due by July 15, 2024.
May 13, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on proposed revisions to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES produces descriptive statistics, which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. For 2025-2026, substantial changes to NHANES content and procedures are not being considered. Comments are due by July 12, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 10, 2024 - Call for volunteer experts in geriatrics, nursing, aging policy, disability policy, or workforce and caregiving to serve on the Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Nominations are due May 31st.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
May 10, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing improvements to increase transparency and accountability, standardize data and monitoring, and create opportunities for States to promote active beneficiary engagement in their Medicaid programs, with the goal of improving access to care. These regulations are effective July 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 10, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advancing CMS' efforts to improve access to care, quality and health outcomes, and better address health equity issues for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care enrollees. This rule specifically addresses standards for timely access to care and States' monitoring and enforcement efforts, reduces burden for some State directed payments and certain quality reporting requirements, adds new standards that will apply when States use in lieu of services and settings (ILOSs) to promote effective utilization and specify the scope and nature of ILOS, specifies medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements, and establishes a quality rating system for Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans. These regulations are effective July 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register