- 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
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
Request for Information: NIH Seeking Input on Health Disparities in Neurological Disease and Care – July 15
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seek input from scientists, clinicians, patients, families, caregivers, advocates, and the broader community on the most important knowledge gaps, health and research needs, and promising opportunities to help guide the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s (NINDS) research. These disparities and inequities may exist across several demographic factors, including race/ethnicity, food/housing insecurity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, educational attainment, age, disability, etc. Responses are encouraged from all interested stakeholders. Read more here.
NACo: Nursing Homes & COVID-19
The National Association of Counties (NACo) gives an overview of COVID-19 cases in nursing home facilities across the U.S., many of which are county-owned and operated. The brief is a resource for counties on federal guidance, policies, and data and includes a case study on expanding testing in rural Linn County, Oregon. Read more here.
COVID-Related Provider Relief Funds for Medicaid and CHIP Providers – July 20
Providers participating in state programs for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may still apply for emergency funding related to the pandemic distributed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to support the health care safety net. The initial Medicare-targeted General Distribution of funds through the CARES Act and the Payment Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provided payments to nearly 320,000 providers who bill for Medicare fee-for-service. The Medicaid and CHIP Targeted distribution will make the Provider Relief Fund available to an additional 800,000 providers. The payment to each provider will be at least two percent of reported gross revenue from patient care; the final amount each provider receives will be determined after the data is submitted. Applicants must submit their data in the online portal created for this purpose by July 20. Find more information here.
FORHP Awards Rural Health Network Development Program
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is recently announced that 44 rural health networks were awarded approximately $13 million for the new competitive funding cycle of the Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program. The RHND Program is a three-year grant program designed to provide support to integrated health care networks who address the health care needs of their rural communities. Recipients are expected to achieve efficiencies, expand access to and improve the quality of essential health care services, and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Awarded applications range in a variety of focus areas including care coordination, value based care, chronic disease management, and behavioral health services. As FORHP continues to focus on sharing program outcomes, the identification and dissemination of rural evidence-based models maintains a priority. Find more information here. The Rural Health Information Hub (RHI hub) consists of a number of resources, including successful program models and evidence-based toolkits.
Administering Flu Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released interim guidance intended to help immunization providers safely administer vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Routine vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for protecting people and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, including flu. This guidance will be reassessed and updated based on the evolving epidemiology of COVID-19 in the U.S.
Medicaid Promoting Interoperability FAQ
Question: We are currently signed up for medical Meaningful Use (MU), but would like to find out about dental Meaningful Use. Is the program the same for dental in terms of requirements? What would we need to do if interested in attesting for dental? Additionally, are there any penalties for not attesting in the final year? If we are not meeting the measures, will this affect any previous incentives received? Also, is there a requirement to continue reporting for MU even after the incentive period ends?
Answer: The Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program does allow dental providers to participate in the program. However, to participate, the dental eligible provider must have received an Adopt, Implement and Upgrade (AIU) payment prior to 2017. Meaningful Use requirements pertain to all Eligible Professionals (EPs) and do not differ for dentists. There are no Medicaid penalties in not meeting or participating in the Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program in the final year of the program (2021) or any year. There is also no requirement to continue to report on your MU measures for the Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program.
Walmart Opens “Healthcare Supercenters”
Walmart is looking beyond traditional retail clinics to create “supercenters” with comprehensive healthcare services. The company rolled out two Walmart Health clinics in June, one in Loganville, Georgia and one in Springdale, Arkansas. These “healthcare supercenters” are not just the typical walk-in urgent-center, but a one-stop shop for healthcare, with primary care, urgent care, diagnostics, x-rays, behavioral health and dental care.”There’s a big difference between offering healthcare services to drive more people to your store and offering healthcare services because you’re in the healthcare business,” said Walmart President of Health and Wellness Sean Slovenski. “We’re in healthcare. We are not in retail healthcare. We’re recruiting physicians in all of these areas and bringing them in.” One differentiator is also cost: a primary care appointment costs just $40; children $20. Read more.
Homelessness and COVID-19: A Merger of Two Epidemics
The COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the homeless and home insecure population, highlighting the health challenges faced by this community and the additional risks posed by COVID-19. A new analysis estimates that homeless individuals infected by COVID-19 are two to four times as likely to require critical care and two to three times as likely to die compared to the general population. Hosted by the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, this webinar examined the state of homelessness, its impact on health and strategies to improve outcomes for homeless individuals both in the short and long term.
Consolidated Webpage Addresses HRSA Scope of Project & COVID-19
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has consolidated existing scope of project information as it relates to the COVID-19 public health emergency on to a single webpage. No new guidance is included. Instead, it provides a single place to find scope of project and COVID-19 resources. Also, as a reminder, HRSA continually updates the COVID-19 FAQ webpage and the page for coronavirus-related funding FAQs. The COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners webpage now includes links to Provider Relief Fund FAQs/resources.
DOL Publishes Online Tool to Help Employees Determine FFCRA Eligibility
On June 23, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced an online tool for employees to help them determine if they are eligible for paid sick leave due to COVID-19. This tool walks employees through a series of questions to test if their employer qualifies for the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). If the provisions apply, the tool moves forward to guide the employee on whether they qualify for either paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave under FFCRA. The DOL is working a similar employer online tool that is to be published soon.