- 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
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule – 60 days from publication in the Federal Register
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks comment on proposed changes to the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI) in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy and security of individuals’ medical records and other PHI.
Final Rule: 340B Drug Pricing Program; Administrative Dispute Resolution Regulation
The provisions of this final rule include a process to resolve (1) claims by covered entities that they have been overcharged for covered outpatient drugs by manufacturers and (2) claims by manufacturers, after the manufacturer has conducted an audit of a covered entity as authorized by section 340B(a)(5)(C) of the Public Health Service Act, that a covered entity has violated the prohibition on diversion or duplicate discounts. HRSA will post the final rule on the 340B Drug Pricing Program website.
CMS: Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses two sources of information in this summary of the quality of care received by Medicare beneficiaries. The first source is the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and its survey on health care experiences (e.g., ease of getting needed care, how well providers communicate, etc.). The second is the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) with information collected from medical records and administrative data on the technical quality of care for a variety of medical issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease.
HHS Report: Strengthening the Entry-Level Health Care Workforce
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) commissioned an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities for this segment of the health care workforce that includes community health workers, behavioral health peer support, and home health aides. Forecasting a shortage across professions, the report identifies entry-level positions as one option for expanding community-level capacity while also increasing employment opportunities.
Rural Counties Report Record Number of Deaths for Sixth Straight Week
By Tim Marema and Tim Murphy
Rural counties also set a record for new infections. But the rate of increase in infections might be leveling off.
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Rural Hospitals Gear up for Vaccine Distribution, Official Says
By Liz Carey
Challenges will include cooling the vaccine and making sure rural residents get the same level of access to the medication.
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Bipartisan Group of Senators Release COVID-19 Framework
NRHA highlighted the fantastic work by a group of bipartisan Senators led by Senators Manchin (D-WV), Collins (R-ME), Cassidy (R-LA), Murkowski (R-AK) and others to work toward a COVID-19 relief package. The framework of this package was made public. Included in the framework was a 20 percent carveout for rural providers in new Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Telehealth Program funding. Additionally, the framework provides updated language on PRF use requirements, so it is more provider friendly. Further, the framework includes a one-year extension of current telehealth flexibilities.
HRSA Funds Additional RHCs to Expand COVID-19 Testing
On December 7, 2020, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) disbursed $9.3 million to support COVID-19 testing at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). HRSA used updated data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify 188 previously unsupported RHCs and calculate more than $49,000 per site for the December 2020 payment. The terms and conditions for recipients of this round of funding remain the same as those for RHCs previously funded in May 2020. Recently posted Frequently Asked Questions about the program provide more details.
HHS Publishes COVID-19 Hospital Facility-Level Data
On Monday, HHS released new hospital COVID-19 capacity data at the facility level. Previously released data about hospital capacity that had been released was aggregated at the state level. This new, more granular, data release aggregates daily hospital reports into a “week at a time” picture to protect patient privacy, while providing a view of how COVID-19 is impacting hospitals and local communities across the country.
Providing Services through the Holiday Season
On Dec. 15 at 12:00 pm, Life Unites Us will host a webinar to educate participants on new ways to treat patients struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) during the pandemic. Attendees will hear from experts in the recovery community who will share their experiences of how they are navigating these unique challenges. Register here.