- 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
HHS: Health Disparities by Race/Ethnicity During the Pandemic
HHS released a report with existing data on rates for infection, hospitalization, death, and vaccination by race and ethnicity. The brief discusses the drivers of these disparities and offers policy recommendations for achieving health equity.
President Biden Issues New Vaccination Goal
President Biden has doubled the administration’s vaccination goal for the first 100 days in office from 100 million to 200 million doses. This follows the administration meeting the initial goal of 100 million doses after just 58 days in office. About 2.5 million doses are being issued in the U.S. every day.
CMS Releases Updates on RHC Payments
CMS released this memo on the implementation of updated RHC rates as included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). The ‘base rate’ for PB RHCs will be the 2020 interim rate if the MAC does not have a final settled cost report. This indicates that the final base rate will be from the final settled 2020 cost report. CMS goes on to say that they plan to discuss more about rates and processes in the 2022 physician fee schedule rule. NRHA will pass along updated information as it becomes available.
AHRQ Toolkit for Managing Sepsis Care
The Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ) created this resource specifically for rural clinicians. The toolkit includes case scenarios, templates, and checklists to improve the quality and safety of managing sepsis, a potentially life-threatening infection.
NIHB Legislative and Policy Agenda for Indian Health
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is a non-profit organization focusing on health care priorities for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. This annual report lists issue areas ranging from COVID-19 response to telehealth capacity to water and sanitation infrastructure.
CDC: Urban-Rural Differences in Drug Overdose Death Rates, 1999-2019
A new brief from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports on a higher rate of overdose deaths due to heroin and cocaine in urban areas. In rural areas, however, overdose rates were higher for natural and semisynthetic opioids, synthetic opioids (excluding methadone), and psychostimulants with abuse potential.
New: Coverage to Care Telehealth Resources
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two new resources to support the use of telehealth. The first educates patients on what to expect during a telehealth visit, and the second supports providers in how to conduct a successful telehealth visit and how to keep up to date on Medicare and Medicaid telehealth payments. Social media graphics are also available.
Commentary: Nominee for HHS Post Has the Experience to Transform Rural Healthcare
By Brock Slabach
As Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, Dr. Rachel Levine helped enact a new system for stabilizing revenue for rural hospitals. She’s the right person to serve as assistant secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
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New Covid Cases Increase Slightly in Rural Counties for the First Time Since January
By Tim Murphy and Tim Marema
Missouri’s reporting anomaly could be part of the cause. But Alabama, Michigan, and California also see increases in rural cases.
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Join Resilient PA, Today!
United Way of Pennsylvania is launching Resilient PA, a coalition open to all who are interested in coming together to foster resilient Pennsylvania youth, families, and communities. Resilient PA’s mission is to work diligently to promote trauma-informed care and systems across sectors as well to advocate for efforts to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for youth and families. Learn more here.