A new proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would update prospective payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) for the fiscal year 2023. To maintain the accuracy, increase the predictability and mitigate instability and significant negative impacts to providers resulting from any future changes to the wage index, CMS is proposing to apply a permanent five percent cap on any decrease to a provider’s wage index from its wage index in the prior year, regardless of the circumstances causing the decline. CMS also proposes requirements for the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program and Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing, including a proposal to adopt influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel. This proposed rule also requests information from the public on revising the requirements for long-term care facilities to establish mandatory minimum staffing levels.
Predictors of Hospital Choice Among Rural Patients Seeking Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review
Hospital choice for surgery affects both patient outcomes and hospital viability; a greater understanding of rural patients’ surgical care-seeking behavior could enhance rural health and rural hospital financial stability. Conducted by the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, this brief identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery.
Earth Day Brings Federal Focus to Climate Change
Over three days next week, the newly formed federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity will host experts speaking about the impact that climate change has on health and well-being. Each hour-long event will take place at noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 19-21. See the link to learn details about speakers and the topics that will be covered, and contact GoGreen@hhs.gov with questions.
The Persistence of Poverty in Rural America
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit focused on improving conditions in the poorest rural places. In this policy brief, HAC identifies 377 persistent poverty counties in the United States – those classified by the Census Bureau as having poverty rates of 20 percent or more for three consecutive decades. Approximately 81 percent of these counties are outside of metropolitan areas.
The Successful Federal Efforts to Address SDOH
Social determinants of health (SDOH) include factors such as housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social mobility, and environmental conditions as having a significant impact on health outcomes. In this series of policy briefs, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services describes the Department’s strategic approach to SDOH and provides successful examples of current federal programs.
The Rural Playbook for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The new legislation promises billions of dollars for high-speed internet, improvements to roads and bridges, clean drinking water, and modernized wastewater systems. The playbook is intended to help communities understand the available funding set aside for rural areas and how to apply for these federal dollars.
New Federal Bill to Provide Rural Hospitals with Financial Stability
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) recently introduced the Rural Hospital Support Act, which would permanently extend two key Medicare rural hospital programs and establish a new rebasing year. “As rural America rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is not the time to let lifeline programs lapse,” says NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “Reauthorization is critical to ensuring stability for the rural health safety net.” Complementary legislation, the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act, was recently introduced to the 117th Congress with the goal to raise the rural health safety net, which is crucial to the survival of rural communities.
Interested in advocating on behalf of rural health? Sign up to participate in NRHA’s rural health advocacy campaigns and be sure to review NRHA’s updated advocacy 101 guide.
HHS Distributing $1.75 Billion in Provider Relief Fund Payments to Health Care Providers Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), today announced more than $1.75 billion in Provider Relief Fund payments to 3,680 providers across the country. With this disbursement, HRSA has distributed approximately $13.5 billion from the Provider Relief Fund to nearly 86,000 and nearly $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments to more than 44,000 providers since November 2021.
“Health care providers have been tireless in protecting their communities and working to maintain access to health services during the pandemic,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Provider Relief Fund resources continue to make it possible for providers to recruit and retain key personnel, implement safety measures, and keep their doors open to care for their patients.”
In September of 2021, HHS opened applications for $25.5 billion in COVID-19 provider funding. With this latest round of payments, nearly $21 billion of this funding has been distributed. Phase 4 payments reimburse smaller providers for a higher percentage of losses during the pandemic and include bonus payments for providers who serve Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries.
Providers can use Provider Relief Fund payments received in the first half of 2022 to cover losses and expenses until June 30, 2023. With these latest payments, approximately 92 percent of all Phase 4 applications have been processed. Remaining applications require additional manual review and HRSA is working to process them as quickly as possible.
Provider Relief Fund payments have played an important role in the national response to COVID-19, helping health care providers prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Health care providers can use the payments for a variety of COVID-related expenses. These include maintaining access to care for patients by addressing workforce challenges through recruitment and retention efforts (PDF).
View a state-by-state breakdown of all Phase 4 payments disbursed to date.
View a state-by-state breakdown of all ARP Rural payments disbursed to date.
As individual providers agree to the terms and conditions of Phase 4 payments, it will be reflected on the public dataset.
For additional information, visit www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief.
Billing for Telehealth Encounters Releases An Introductory Guide on Fee-for-Service
In this guide, the HRSA-supported Center for Connected Health Policy presents an overview of how to bill fee-for-service Medicare and Medicaid for telehealth encounters, including information on originating and distant sites, virtual healthcare, and coding telehealth services.
CMS Announces 2023 Rates for Medicare Advantage and Part D
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the Rate Announcement). In the CY 2023 MA and Part D Advance Notice, CMS solicited comments on a variety of topics, including seeking input on promoting health equity in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.