- 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
- 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
PA Budget Passed
Governor Wolf signed the Fiscal Year 2020-21 state budget. The budget included the use of the remaining $1.3 billion in CARES Act funding to offset General Fund budget items–mostly wages for front line workers, like those of the Departments of Health and Corrections, along with an improved revenue situation and continuation of enhanced federal matching payments for the state’s Medicaid program helped to close the budgetary gap left by the impact of COVID-19 and mitigation efforts to slow the virus spread. Funding for the Pennsylvania Primary Care Practitioner Program line item remained at the same funding levels as the previous year.
Preparation Heating Up for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
With two vaccines queued up for FDA approval and distribution beginning as soon as mid-December, planning efforts are kicking into high gear. The state Vaccine Crisis Committee has been meeting weekly since September. This week, the PA Department of Health (DOH) began offering meetings for providers that have submitted vaccine enrollment applications to DOH. Here is some of the information that was shared during the first meeting:
- DOH expects shipment of the Pfizer vaccine as early as Dec. 15 and the Moderna vaccine about a week later
- It is important to recognize that the first shipments will address only about 1% of the population and will be targeted to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities
- Only organizations that have submitted a COVID-19 vaccine enrollment application to DOH will be eligible to receive vaccine
- There will be bidirectional communication with enrolled organizations prior to shipment
- Shipment will include a separately shipped “ancillary kit” that includes needles, masks and face shields
- All vaccine reporting will be through PA-SIIS
- For the initial phase of vaccination, providers will receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, not both, to reduce confusion, although that could change as supply and vaccine options increase
Additional information can be found in this week’s summary of the weekly All PA FQHC CEO Call and PACHC will continue to share information as it becomes available. In the meantime, it is important for each health center to begin planning, including prioritization of who will be eligible to receive the vaccine if there is an inadequate initial supply to immunize all employees.
Hospital Price Transparency: Guidance for Small, Rural Hospitals
The National Rural Health Resource Center created the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) Pricing Transparency Guide to help navigate the November 2019 Price Transparency Rule. State Office of Rural Health Directors, SHIP Coordinators, and other rural hospital stakeholders can also view a webinar with further explanation that was recorded last month.
Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Changes Finalized
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.
Waiver to Provide Acute Hospital Care At Home
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.
Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model – Two Rural Participants’ Experiences
This Rural Health Value Rural Innovation Profile describes the successes and challenges of two AHCs serving rural populations. The CMS Innovation Center Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model seeks to identify and address health-related social needs of Medicare, Medicaid, and dual-eligible beneficiaries.
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2021
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.
Comments Requested: Paperwork Reduction for the FCC – December 24
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.
HHS Request for Information on Best Practices in Response to COVID-19 – December 24
There are a number of innovative programs, policies, and best practices that prevent and mitigate the consequences of COVID–19 in urban and rural areas, while also preserving access to healthcare services for non-COVID-19 medical conditions. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requests information on these innovative approaches and best practices in health care for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 conditions to inform and improve HHS priorities and programs.
HHS Request for Information on Redundant, Overlapping, or Inconsistent Regulations – December 21
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.