This flowchart from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guides providers on how to bill Medicare for COVID-19 testing for beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities/nursing facilities. It also includes resources and explanations on how to receive reimbursements for testing if residents have Medicaid, private health insurance, or no health insurance. Find more information here.
Request for Information: Quality Measures for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) – October 19
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seek public input on the potential benefits and challenges of using a nationally available set of quality measures in the delivery of Medicaid-funded HCBS. HCBS programs vary by state and serve a variety of targeted Medicaid enrollees, such as people with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or mental illness, and provide opportunities for Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services in their own homes and communities rather than in institutions. Read more here.
Comments Requested: The Role of Telehealth in Improving Quality and Access to Care – October 9
The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee requests public input on the role that telehealth can play in new physician payment models. This committee reviews and recommends payment models proposed by the public to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and they have posed several questions in this RFI to improve their understanding of how telehealth is used in value-based care and how it can be improved. Find more information here. Email comments to PTAC@HHS.gov.
Urban Hospitals with a High Percentage of Inpatient Days for Rural Patients
This study from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center evaluated differences in urban hospitals with high and low percentages of rural inpatient days using several indicators. These indicators fall into five broad categories: Medicare payer mix, size, profitability, distance to the next closest hospital, and wage index. Read more here.
DOL H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant Program – November 13
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will make up to 40 awards with a total investment of $40 million to train health care professionals working in rural areas. The H-1B Skills Training Grants fund projects that train workers for high-skill jobs in underserved areas of the country to allow employers to meet workforce needs. Find more information here.
New Report on Post-Acute Care in Rural America
This week, the National Rural Health Resource Center released findings from their May 2020 Virtual Summit, which focused on the issues, challenges, and strategies related to the integration of acute and post-acute care in rural areas. The report covers the current state of rural post-acute care, including the impact of COVID-19, and explores strategies and tactics to address key issues, such as payment, workforce, and community care coordination. Read more here.
Census Report on Income and Poverty in the United States, 2019
The report from the U.S. Census Bureau presents data based on information collected every month in the Current Population Survey (CPS). Findings show a median household income of $68,703 in 2019, with a 1.3 percent decline in the official poverty rate. Read more here.
SAMHSA: National Survey on Drug Use and Health
In its annual report, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) presents data on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as trends in mental health and access to treatment. Statistics cover a range of demographic and geographic characteristics, including comparison of urban and rural. Read more here.
CDC: Urban-Rural Differences in Suicide Rates, 2000-2018
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used data from the National Vital Statistics System to find that suicide rates increased overall for urban and rural areas for the years studied, with the pace of increase greater for rural suicide rates. On Wednesday, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released their findings from a survey on Mental Health Treatment Among Adults in 2019. Results show that overall, as the level of urbanization decreased, the percentage of adults who had taken medication for their mental health increased, and the percentage who had received counseling or therapy decreased. Read more here.
Comments Requested: Modifications to the Definition of Rural for FORHP Grants – October 23
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) proposed modifications to the definition of ‘rural’ used to designate areas to be eligible for its rural health grants. The proposed definitions are based on a data-driven methodology that will allow community organizations serving rural populations within metro areas to be able to apply for grants as well as allow more of the rural populations within metro areas to access services provided using grant funds. Find more information here.