Rural Hospitals – News

CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From The Joint Commission for Continued CMS-Approval of Its Hospital Accreditation Program Federal Register

Feb 11, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of The Joint Commission as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by March 13, 2025.

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CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; Quality Reporting Programs, Including the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program; Health and Safety Standards for Obstetrical Services in Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals; Prior Authorization; Requests for Information; Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Eligibility; Medicaid Clinic Services Four Walls Exceptions; Individuals Currently or Formerly in Custody of Penal Authorities; Revision to Medicare Special Enrollment Period for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals; and All-Inclusive Rate Add-On Payment for High-Cost Drugs Provided by Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities; Correcting Amendment Federal Register

Jan 13, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographic corrections to the November 27, 2024, final rule. This correcting amendment is effective January 8, 2025, and is applicable beginning January 1, 2025.

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Study: Obstetrics Units in Rural Communities Declining

Dec 30, 2024 - Describes the findings of new research on hospital obstetric units published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Notes that, between 2010 and 2022, a greater proportion of rural hospitals lacked obstetric services compared to urban hospitals. Discusses the wide-ranging health implications for rural mothers and babies, and provides an overview of proposed federal legislation to address the issue.

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CMS: Medicare Program; Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program: Solicitation of Additional Participants Federal Register

Dec 26, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking applications for 10 additional eligible hospitals to participate in the Rural Community Hospital demonstration program through June 30, 2028. The Rural Community Hospital demonstration program pays rural community hospitals for covered inpatient services under a cost-based methodology for Medicare payment for Medicare beneficiaries. Applications are due by March 1, 2025.

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