- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- 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
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
Penn State Releases Results of Child Care Study
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) released a Penn State University study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s child care industry. The study was included in legislation that passed the General Assembly this spring as part of negotiations around allocation of federal stimulus dollars.
Prior to the health crisis, Pennsylvania had more than 7,000 licensed child care providers operating. However, as of July more than 200 of those providers indicated they plan to permanently shut their doors. Further, the study estimates that about 1,000 additional providers are at risk of closure without financial assistance.
The study and recommendations will be used by Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to guide the distribution of $116 million in federal CARES funding for child care. The state previously released just over $100 million in federal stimulus funding specific to the Child Care Development Block Grant. The additional $116 million was secured as part of advocacy work done by the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns this spring.
CMS Releases Additional FAQs on Provider Relief Funds and PPP Payments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an additional list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to Medicare providers regarding the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund and the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program payments, also referred to as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief payments. The FAQs provide guidance to providers on how to report provider relief fund payments, uninsured charges reimbursed through the Uninsured Program administered by Health Resources and Services Administration, and Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Forgiveness amounts. The FAQs also address that provider relief funds should not offset expenses on the Medicare Cost Report.
The FAQs discussed above can be found on page 99 of the document.
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced sweeping regulatory changes that require nursing homes to test staff and offer testing to residents for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Laboratories and nursing homes using point-of-care testing devices will be required to report diagnostic test results as required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The new rules also require hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals, to provide COVID-19 cases and related data to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Read the full announcement here.
Prognosis for Rural Hospitals Worsens With Pandemic
Rural hospitals were already struggling before the coronavirus emerged. Now, the loss of revenue from patients who are afraid to come to the emergency room, postponing doctor’s appointments and delaying elective surgeries is adding to the pressure.
Read the full article here.
(Sarah Jane Tribble, 8/26)
Deadline for Phase 2 General Distribution Funding Extended
UPDATE: The deadline to apply for Phase 2 General Distribution Funding has been extended to September 13, 2020.
On July 20, 2020, HHS issued a public notice about forthcoming reporting requirements for certain providers that accepted one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate funding from the Provider Relief Fund program. The reporting notice initially advised recipients that additional details regarding data elements would be provided by August 17, 2020. HRSA is continuing to refine its data elements and will provide those additional details at a date later than August 17, 2020. Providers will still be given the detailed PRF reporting instructions and a data collection template with the necessary data elements they will be asked to submit well in advance of the reporting system being made available – which is currently targeted for October 1, 2020. Providers should continue to check this website for the latest updates.
Trump Administration Launches National Training Program to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices
New training provides education on critical safety measures to keep residents safe
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a national nursing home training program for frontline nursing home staff and nursing home management. The training is designed to equip both frontline caregivers and their management with the knowledge they need to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their nursing homes. The training announced today will be available immediately to staff of America’s 15,400 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes and focuses on critical topics like infection control and prevention, appropriate screening of visitors, effective cohorting of residents, safe admission and transfer of residents, and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – all critical elements of stopping the spread of COVID-19. President Trump first announced the training in late July as part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to the safety of American seniors living in nursing homes.
Health Care Survey for People with Disabilities in Rural Pennsylvania
If you are a person with a disability, or a family member/caregiver of someone with a disability, please take 15 minutes and tell the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) about your experience with the healthcare system. Your answers will help shed light on how the healthcare system is working or not working for people with disabilities in rural areas and how healthcare has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with a disability and their family members/caregivers living in rural areas of Pennsylvania who complete this survey and participate in a follow up phone interview may be eligible to receive a stipend in the form of a $50 gift card.
The Importance of Good Oral Health During the Pandemic
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published “The Importance of Good Oral Health During the Pandemic” written by C. Eve J Kimball, MD, FAAP & Anupama Rao Tate, DMD, MPHB. The article discusses why oral health is important during the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to prevent dental problems.
USPHS Chief Dental Officer Newsletter & Healthy People 2030
The 51st issue of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Chief Dental Officer Newsletter features an article about the launch of Healthy People 2030. There is information and links to all of the Healthy People 2030 objectives related to oral health. The newsletter also includes COVID-related news bites, non-COVID news, a list of upcoming events, and information about Immunization Awareness Month.
Reminder! 2020 Assister Certification Training on the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) “Go-Dark”
As CMS prepares to release the 2021 Assister Certification Training, the 2020 Assister Certification Training that is hosted on the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS), will be taken offline at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, August 28, 2020. During this “go-dark” period, assisters will not be able to access the certification training. We anticipate that the 2021 Assister Certification Training will be available later this summer.
Assisters who need to take the current training before the 2021 training is available should complete the 2020 Assister Certification training prior to its removal on Friday, August 28th.
Please note: this is training for assisters in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace, and assisters in State-based Marketplace or State-based Marketplace using the Federal platform should follow their state’s training and certification requirements.