- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
Physician Support Line
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OCR Update on HIPAA and COVID-19
This video provides a recording of an April 24, 2020, webinar on HIPAA privacy and health information technology security issues related to COVID-19. It discusses several U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights actions during the pandemic, including notifications of enforcement discretion and guidance for telehealth remote communications, first responders and public health authorities, and other stakeholders. Find the video here.
How will the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?
This fact sheet discusses ways in which rural people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 recession. It analyzes data from the 2015 and 2016 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making and the American Time Use Survey 2017-18 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. It features statistics on numbers of people with disabilities who have emergency funds, paid sick leave, and jobs that can be done from home, with breakdowns by rural or metropolitan location. Read more here.
COVID-19: Protecting Your Vulnerable Patients with Proactive Outreach
This article discusses ways to protect at-risk patients with proactive outreach during the pandemic. It emphasizes the importance of active outreach and ways to engage patients in new care options, and it examines special circumstances concerning telehealth and annual wellness visits. Read more here.
COVID-19 in Rural America – Is There Cause for Concern?
This issue brief compares the incidence of COVID-19 cases and deaths in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties in the United States. It features statistics including numbers of cases and deaths in the top 5 metro and nonmetro counties as of April 27, 2020, and average COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 people and rates of increase in deaths, with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro counties. Read more here.
COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― 19 States, April 2020
This report examines COVID-19 cases among workers in 115 meat and poultry processing facilities reported by 19 states. It discusses factors potentially affecting risk for infection, including difficulties with workplace physical distancing and hygiene and crowded living and transportation conditions. It also includes recommended changes to address these issues. Read more here.
Childhood Obesity Resources Related to COVID-19
This resource provides a collection of resources to help prevent childhood weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes links to fact sheets and programs for parents and teachers, nutrition guidance for practitioners, and modules and webinars for graduate students and faculty engaging in virtual learning and teaching. Read more here.
Request for Information (RFI): Guidance on Current Clinical Experience in Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Settings
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is seeking input from primary care providers with clinical experience in screening for suicide risk to better understand the opportunities and barriers regarding efforts to care for individuals with suicide risk. Potential topics to address include suicide risk assessment, interventions, the use of telehealth for consultations, efforts to provide follow-up care, as well as adjustments practices have made during the coronavirus crisis. Find more information here.
Information on Mental Health Awareness Month – for PBS Story-Sharing Platform
PBS American Portrait is requesting 20-60 second video submissions from Americans telling stories related to Mental Health Awareness Month 2020. It includes a list of 16 prompts to choose from, encouraging mental health professionals, those who are dealing with or have overcome mental health concerns, and rural stakeholders to participate. Find more information here.
AHRQ: National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality: Request for Nominations for Members
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is requesting nominations for the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality to serve 3-year terms beginning in the spring of 2021. At least one member of the committee must be familiar with rural health issues. The committee advises the AHRQ director and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in regards to AHRQ’s mission. Nominations are due within 60 days of this notice. Find more information here.