The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized changes to two rules that will allow healthcare providers to participate in care coordination activities and value-based arrangements without violating laws.  The first rule creates exceptions to the Physician Self-Referral law (aka the Stark Law), which prohibits a physician from referring a patient to any entity with which they have a financial relationship.  The second rule adds safe harbors to the Anti-Kickback Statute, which imposes criminal penalties when someone solicits, pays, or receives a reward in exchange for referrals.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting requests for hospitals to waive certain Medicare Conditions and Participation (CoPs) in order to provide acute care hospital services in a patient’s home.

This week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final policy, payment, and quality updates for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the Quality Payment Program, and the Diabetes Prevention Program for calendar year 2021.  In addition to payment updates,  it adds new services to the telehealth list, updates the scope of practice policies to allow teaching physicians to use interactive, real-time audio/video to interact with residents, and finalizes billing codes for Principal Care Management (PCM) services for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

As part of its Measuring Broadband America Program, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks input from the public on the types of information that should be collected to determine the speed and performance of broadband connections.  Specifically, the FCC would like to receive comments on how they might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.”  Currently, there are software-based tools and online tools that can test consumers’ broadband connections. However, these tools track speeds experienced by consumers, rather than speeds delivered directly to a consumer by an internet service provider.  The Measuring Broadband America Program will focus on the broadband performance delivered.

On November 27, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public to improve existing regulations, and eliminate unnecessary or duplicative regulations, through future exercise of rulemaking authority. As this RFI seeks input on regulations issued by any HHS office or agency, those responding may consider addressing regulatory issues of particular interest to rural health.

The National Governors Association released a toolkit based on lessons learned during a policy academy on health workforce data. The publication highlights:

•   The types of questions states can address with data,
•   Information about data sources,
•   Key stakeholders to engage, and
•   Examples from states that have maximized their data.

The toolkit was developed as part of HRSA’s cooperative agreement with National Organizations of State and Local Officials (NOSLO).

Check out the toolkit.

HRSA requests nominations for voting members to serve on the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV). The HHS Secretary appoints nine voting members to the ACCV and they cannot be employees of the U.S. Government.

E-mail the nominee’s resume or curricula vitae to Andrea Herzog or mail the nominee’s resume or curricula vitae to:

Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs
Healthcare Systems Bureau
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 08N146B
Rockville, MD 20857

For more information, read the Federal Register notice (PDF – 194 KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF – 195 KB). Contact Andrea Herzog, Principal Staff Liaison at 301-443-6634.