- 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
CMS Innovation Center Reimagines Rural Health Care Approaches
CMS published Re-imagining Rural Health: Themes, Concepts, and Next Steps from the CMS Innovation Center “Hackathon” Series. The report describes lessons learned from previous Innovation Center models focused on rural health and their application to recent model development, as well as potential future areas the Innovation Center might explore to support rural communities. It also highlights themes and insights from the CMS Innovation Center-hosted 2024 Rural Health Hackathon. The Hackathon series convened rural health providers, community organizations, industry and tech entrepreneurs, philanthropies, policy experts, and patients to generate creative and actionable solutions to address the varied challenges to delivering quality health care in rural communities. The top thematic areas highlighted a need for training, regulatory changes, and collaboration to help improve access to care and support transformation.
As a next step, CMS intends to issue a Request for Application to fill the ten open spaces for the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration. The demonstration was directed by Congress and requires a test of cost-based payment for Medicare inpatient services for rural hospitals with fewer than 51 beds that are ineligible for Critical Access Hospital status. The demonstration has been operated by CMS since 2004 and is scheduled to end on June 30, 2028. The paper also outlines some possible considerations for future Accountable Care Organization-focused and other models.
The Innovation Center is committed to advancing rural health. The Center looks forward to further utilizing input from the Hackathon and robust engagement with rural health groups to design new models and innovations to address challenges facing rural, Tribal, frontier, and geographically isolated areas. Additionally, where possible, the Center may change existing models to enable greater participation by rural providers.
- Read more: Re-imagining Rural Health: Themes, Concepts, and Next Steps from the CMS Innovation Center “Hackathon” Series.
- Learn more about the CMS Innovation Center Strategy Direction
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients Can Enroll in Pennsylvania’s Insurance Exchange
Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange has announced that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients can enroll in health coverage through Pennie. See below for details.
What is happening?
- Effective, November 1, 2024, DACA recipients will no longer be excluded from the definition of lawfully present and, assuming they meet all other eligibility requirements, will be eligible to enroll in health coverage through Pennie and receive financial savings.
- A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) will begin November 1, 2024, allowing DACA recipients 60 days to enroll in coverage through Pennie. When enrolling, the SEP “Gain of Eligible Immigration Status” should be used.
- DACA recipients who enroll in Pennie in November will have a coverage effective date of December 1, 2024. DACA recipients who enroll in Pennie in December will have a coverage effective date of January 1, 2025.
How You Can Help:
- When DACA recipients come to enroll in Medicaid coverage and denied due to their status, encourage them to go to Pennie where they can find quality and affordable health coverage at visit pennie.com.
- DACA recipients will be denied Medicaid, the updated eligibility requirements only apply to State Based Health Insurance Marketplaces like Pennie
- IMPORTANT NOTE: These recipients will not be automatically transferred to Pennie if/when found ineligible for Medicaid.
- For questions, call Pennie Customer Service at +1-844-844-8040
New Telecommunications Public Searchable Map Database
The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Telecommunications Program is excited to announce the launch of the new Public Searchable Map Database!
This new resource provides the public a fully searchable database that contains information on all retail broadband projects provided assistance, or for which assistance was sought, in the United States, US Territories, and Compacts of Free Association (COFA) sovereign states under the RUS Telecommunications Program.
We encourage you to visit the Public Searchable Map Database and start exploring its functionality, including the advanced Search Filters and downloadable Results Table.
Please Note: The Public Searchable Map Database will be replacing the Telecommunications Program Funded Service Areas Map and the ReConnect Proposed and Approved Projects Map. Any applications that are not approved for funding will be removed from the Public Searchable Map Database.
Please submit any questions using the Contact Us Form.
New Rural Health Value Website and Resources Available: Rural VBC–The Payer Perspective and TEAM Model Summary
The Rural Health Value team is pleased to share that we have launched a redesigned website and logo. While we have a new look – you will continue to find trusted resources that facilitate the transition of rural healthcare organizations, payers, and communities from volume-based to value-based health care and payment models. Please take a look! On the new website you will find two new resources.
- Rural Value-Based Care – The Payer Perspective, Rural Health Value Summit Report. The Rural Health Value team convened professionals and executives from national and regional health care payer organizations to share and explore insights, innovations, successes, and challenges in rural health value-based care (VBC) contracting. This report summarizes challenges and solutions followed by suggestions for rural health care organization leaders from the Summit participants.
- A one-page summary of CMS’s Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM). TEAM is a mandatory, episode-based, alternative payment model, in which selected acute care hospitals will coordinate care for people with Traditional Medicare undergoing one of the surgical procedures included in the model and assume responsibility for the cost and quality of care from surgery through the first 30 days after the Medicare beneficiary leaves the hospital. Of the 741 hospitals identified for mandatory participation, 124 (16.7%) are in non-metro counties. More from CMS on TEAM.
This summary is part of Rural Health Value’s Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers. The catalog summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), primarily by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
Rural Health Value facilitates the transition of rural healthcare organizations, payers, and communities from volume-based to value-based health care and payment models. Visit www.ruralhealthvalue.org or contact Clint MacKinney, MD, MS, Co-Principal Investigator, clint-mackinney@uiowa.edu.
Request for Proposals: Partner for Appalachian Leadership Institute
ARC is seeking proposals from organizations, including non-profits, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders to work in partnership with the ARC Academies & Institutes team to execute the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), a leadership development program for people who live and/or work in Appalachian and are passionate about helping their communities thrive.
Launched in 2019, the Appalachian Leadership Institute is a leadership training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. Since its launch, ALI has trained approximately 200 Appalachian leaders.
ALI is a collaborative effort between the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Organization that serves as our curriculum partner. The selected organization will provide expertise on content and curriculum planning under the leadership and approval of ARC. More information on the breakdown of roles and responsibilities can be found in the RFP.
Proposals must describe the strategy for promoting and implementing action-oriented leadership in the Appalachian Region, to include, but not be limited to, the following major components under the ALI umbrella:
- A program aimed at 40 leaders from Appalachia’s public, private, and non-profit sectors.
- Curriculum and sessions focused on ARC’s five investment areas.
- Case study work that reflects both the opportunities and challenges in the region.
- Proposed areas of training in leadership skills development.
- Alumni Network Programming
- Curriculum and sessions that build upon the core curriculum of the program
- Proposed strategy for network building and continued growth
Key dates are outlined below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Academies & Institutes Program Manager Jessica Mosley at leadershipRFP@arc.gov.
RFP open date: November 7, 2024
Questions due: December 13, 2024
Answers posted on arc.gov: December 19, 2024
Proposal due date: January 10, 2025
Interviews: February 24-28, 2025
Selection date: March 10, 2025
Contract period: August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026
Gov. Josh Shapiro Proclaims November 18-22, 2024 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania
In an effort to draw attention to the wide range of issues that impact rural health, Gov. Josh Shapiro has declared November 18-22, 2024, as Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania at the request of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Association (PRHA) and the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH).
Gov. Shapiro made the proclamation to promote awareness of the full range of issues that impact rural health care throughout the Commonwealth and the health status of rural Pennsylvanians. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks as one of the states with the highest number of rural residents, with 26 percent of Pennsylvanians residing in rural areas. In recognition of Pennsylvania’s diverse rural needs, the Commonwealth has supported the development of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, and other agencies and initiatives to address the needs of rural Pennsylvanians.
The week encompasses November 21, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to showcase rural America; increase awareness of rural health issues; and promote the efforts of NOSORH, State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) and others in addressing those issues.
“Nearly 59.5 million Americans, including 3.4 million Pennsylvanians, live in rural communities,” said Lisa Davis, PORH director and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State. “These small towns and communities continue to be fueled by the creative energy of citizens who step forward to provide a wealth of products, resources, and services.
Rural communities also face unique health care concerns: a lack of providers; accessibility issues, particularly in terms of transportation and technology; and affordability issues as the result of larger percentages of uninsured and underinsured citizens and greater out-of-pocket health costs. Rural hospitals and health care providers, which frequently are the economic backbone of the communities they serve, deserve special consideration so that they can continue to provide high-quality services and meet the needs of rural residents.”
To celebrate the work being done to achieve health care access and equity in Pennsylvania, PORH will present Pennsylvania Rural Health Awards during virtual ceremonies across rural Pennsylvania.
PORH was established in 1991 to enhance the health status of rural Pennsylvanians and strengthen the delivery and quality of care in the communities in which they live. Each year, the organization presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
PRHA is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s rural citizens and communities. Through the combined efforts of individuals, organizations, professionals, and community leaders, the Association is a collective voice for rural health issues and a conduit for information and resources. More information can be found at paruralhealth.org.
CMS to Host Conference on Optimizing Healthcare Delivery to Improve Patient Lives
Scheduled for December 12, 2024! This free, virtual conference hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will convene change makers from the healthcare community and federal government to share new ideas, lessons learned, and best practices to reduce administrative burden and strengthen access to quality care.
Click here for more information and to register.
Good Read: Implementation of SPD 15 in the American Community Survey
Earlier this year, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published the results of its review of Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15) and issued updated standards for maintaining, collecting and presenting race and ethnicity data across federal agencies. The updated 2024 SPD 15 requires the use of a combined race and ethnicity question, the addition of a new “Middle Eastern or North African” minimum reporting category, and the collection of detailed race and ethnicity responses.
Since then, programs across the U.S. Census Bureau have been assessing how and when to implement the updated race and ethnicity standards set by OMB in the 2024 SPD 15. We expect race and ethnicity data that align with the revised standards will enhance the entire range of Census Bureau data products that describe the demographic makeup and socioeconomic characteristics of our country and our diverse communities.
Read more.
Written by: Donna M. Daily, Division Chief, American Community Survey Office and Karen Battle, Division Chief, Population Division
New Report Available on Oral and Mental Health During and After Pregnancy
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a report, “Oral and Mental Health During and After Pregnancy.” Pregnant people are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease and caries. The report cites the need for better medical-dental integration in order to address whole-person health through pregnancy and postpartum periods.
New Brief Released on Minimally-Invasive Oral Care
Community Catalyst released a brief, “Minimally-Invasive Care: Policy Opportunities to Improve Dental Care Access and Affordability.” This resource provides an overview of state-level policies advocates can push for to ensure communities have access to comprehensive dental services, including minimally-invasive care, as well as federal policy considerations that will support its availability.