- 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
NIH Study Shows Higher Mortality Rates for Patients on Respiratory Support in Rural Care
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a study finding rural patients receiving ventilator life support in intermediate care units had significantly higher death rates than patients in the same type of unit at urban hospitals. Data was collected from 2010 to 2019 on 2.75 million hospitalizations of Medicare patients who were on respiratory support at rural and urban hospitals across the country.
New Medicaid Model for Treatment of Rare Diseases Introduced
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model, an initiative that aims to improve the lives of people with Medicaid living with rare and severe diseases by increasing access to potentially transformative treatments. Initially the model will focus on increasing access to gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. CGT is a multi-year payment model with state Medicaid agencies and pharmaceutical companies acting as participants, with optional grant funding available for states to provide an increased level of support for patients receiving gene therapy. CMS expects to release a Request for Application (RFA) to manufacturers in early spring 2024 and an RFA and Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to states in summer 2024.
AHRQ Requesting Public Input: Severe Maternal Morbidity Measurement – Comment by March 4
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) needs assistance with data on state-level rates of severe maternal morbidity, that help inform HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau Title V Block Grant. Among the questions AHRQ has for stakeholders representing consumers – including but not limited to state and local health departments, accountable care organizations, and providers such as Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics – is what quantitative data would you need to make maternal health service improvements. The comment period closes on March 4th and comments should be sent to askahrq@ahrq.hhs.gov. Recently, the Government Accountability Office cited several factors that pose additional risks and challenges for pregnant women in rural areas.
The Economic Effects of Rural Hospital Closures Reported
Researchers at the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program report on changes to annual income, population size, unemployment, and size of the labor force in nonmetro counties that experienced a hospital closure between 2001 and 2018.
SAMHSA Finalizes Rule on Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
On January 31, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published final revisions to federal regulations surrounding opioid use disorder treatment standards, including accreditation and certification standards for opioid treatment programs (OTP). The final rule addresses several longstanding barriers to broader use of medications to treat opioid use disorder. Among other changes, the revised policy formalizes various methadone treatment protocols at OTPs that were put in place during the pandemic, and expands access to take-home methadone. The finalized rule also adds to the workforce and their capabilities, expanding the definition of OTP practitioner to include Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, among other types of clinician, and allowing for MOUD prescribing via telehealth. The effective date of this final rule is April 2, 2024 and the compliance date is October 2, 2024.
An Update Released on the Federal Overdose Prevention Strategy
FORHP’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program figures prominently among ongoing federal grant programs that are part of the strategy that is now entering its third year. The effort involves every one of the 12 operating divisions of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and, in 2023 alone, featured groundbreaking changes to policy that include:
- Eliminated the Drug Enforcement Agency waiver for prescribing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and made temporary rules for prescribing via telemedicine permanent; (See more details about SAMHSA policy changes for MOUD in the next item.)
- Increased Medicare payment rates for opioid treatment programs (OTPs), including services provided by mobile units;
- Expanded the clinical workforce that may bill Medicare by including marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and others to provide behavioral health services;
- Established Medicare payment for Intensive Outpatient Program services, which can be furnished in hospital outpatient departments, Community Mental Health Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and OTPs.
The latest initiative in the overdose prevention strategy was announced earlier this week. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will invest more than $20 million to advance health information technology in behavioral health care and practice settings.
Produce Prescription Programs Offer A Holistic Approach to Rural Food Insecurity
A feature article in The Rural Monitor looks at a program in Mississippi that provides a monthly credit for fresh produce at local markets for individuals with diet-related chronic health conditions. The USDA Produce Prescription Program is accepting applications until February 28.
See How History Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Interactive Timeline
An interactive timeline from the national nonprofit KFF gives an historical view of U.S. federal policies and events that have influenced present-day health disparities.
Information Released on How to Use the Office & Outpatient Evaluation and Management Visit Complexity Add-on Code G2211
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance for the implementation of the Office & Outpatient (O/O) Evaluation and Management (E/M) visit complexity add-on code G2211 beginning January 1, 2024. Included in the guidance are the documentation requirements for G2211, the correct use of the code and modifier 25, and patient coinsurance and deductible.
Attend the CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum – Thursday, February 29 at 2:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, February 29 at 2:00pm EST.
The Rural Health Open Door Forum addresses Rural Health Clinic, Critical Access Hospital, and Federally Qualified Health Center issues as well other topics relevant to rural providers. Agenda coming soon.