- The Biden-Harris Administration Supports Rural Health Care
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $52 Million Investment for Health Centers to Provide Care for People Reentering the Community after Incarceration
- On National Rural Health Day, Reps. Sewell and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Hospitals
- Terri Sewell Cosponsors Bill Reauthoring Program to Support Rural Hospitals
- HRSA: Inclusion of Terrain Factors in the Definition of Rural Area for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants
- Celebrating National Rural Health Day
- DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- Talking Rural Health Care with U of M
- Public Inspection: DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- CDC Presents a Five-Year Plan for Rural Healthcare
- Kansas Faith Leaders 'Well Positioned' To Help Fill Mental Health Care Gaps in Rural Areas
- The CDC Wants More Kansas Farm Workers to Get Their Flu Shots This Season
- Study: Rural Residents More Likely to Struggle With Medical Debt
- Deaths From Cardiovascular Disease Increased Among Younger U.S Adults in Rural Areas
- VA Proposes to Eliminate Copays for Telehealth, Expand Access to Telehealth for Rural Veterans
CMS Requests Review and Comment on Rural Maternal Health Care
On February 13, 2020, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced a Request for Information (RFI) to seek public comments regarding rural maternal and infant health care.
Through CMS’ Office of Minority Health, the agency is seeking information related to opportunities to improve access, quality, and outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy, and to develop and refine programs and policies that ensure all rural women have access to high quality maternal health care that results in optimal health.
To review the RFI, please visit go.cms.gov/ruralhealth.
Responses to this RFI will be used to inform future discussions among stakeholders and future work by CMS toward the development and refinement of programs and policies that ensure rural women have access to high quality maternal health care that results in optimal health outcomes.
CMS encourages all stakeholders to review the RFI at go.cms.gov/ruralhealth and submit comments to RuralMaternalRFI@cms.hhs.gov. Comments will be collected starting Wednesday February 12 through Sunday, April 12 at 11:59pm ET.
For more information and updates about this RFI, please visit the CMS Rural Health website at go.cms.gov/ruralhealth or email questions to RuralMaternalRFI@cms.hhs.gov.
Oral Health Coalition Releases 2019 Annual Report
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) has released their annual report for 2019 detailing accomplishments for the year. They extend a heartfelt thank you to their 2019 stakeholders, sponsors, and financial partners!
Funding Opportunity: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis Suicide Prevention Resource Center
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Synopsis 1
Find more information here.
Funding Opportunity: Health Resources and Services Administration Service Area Competition
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration Service Area Competition Synopsis 1
Find more information here.
Funding Opportunity: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities Synopsis 1
Find more information here.
New Guidance on Providing Opioid Treatment Services to Dually-Eligible Enrollees
Beginning January 1, 2020, Medicare will pay opioid treatment programs (OTPs) a bundled payment for providing treatment to Medicare beneficiaries and beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This Guidance to State Medicaid Agencies clarifies that OTPs must enroll with Medicare in order for Medicare to become the primary payer for services provided to dually-eligible beneficiaries and offers interim reimbursement solutions while providers go through the Medicare enrollment process. There are few OTPs in rural areas, yet rural health providers are hopeful that increased access to medication-assisted therapy, such as that provided in OTPs, can have a positive impact on rural opioid use. Read more here.
Nominations for Federal Advisory Commission on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting nominations for this group that advises HRSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on objectives, strategies, policies, and priorities. The announcement is for continuous recruitment and applications will be accepted at any time; however, interested candidates are encouraged to submit their nomination packages as soon as possible for consideration in the next round of nominations. Read more here.
Comments Requested: Medicare Advantage Advance Notice for 2021 Plan Year Risk Adjustment
CMS seeks comment on proposed updates to the hierarchical condition categories (HCC) model and the use of encounter data for risk adjusting MA plan payments in the 2021 plan year. The proposed changes to the risk adjustment methodology are intended to better predict the cost to care for Medicare Advantage enrollees based on their health status and other factors Research has found that HCC risk scores vary between rural and urban providers. Other proposed payment methodology changes for the 2021 plan year will be released at a later date in Part II of the Advance Notice. Read more here.
Impact of the Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital Payment Cap on Rural and Urban Hospitals
The Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment adjustment is intended to compensate those hospitals serving a disproportionate number of low-income patients. Begun in 1986, the program was amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to impose a 12% cap on the payment, with exception for large hospitals and Rural Referral Centers. This policy brief from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis describes the number and location of urban and rural hospitals affected by that cap. Read more here.
Two New Briefs on Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Areas
On December 30, 2020, the Rural Health Research Gateway released two policy briefs from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. The first presents findings from an online survey of Rural Health Clinics describing clinic data and characteristics related to healthcare access. A second brief examines access issues for rural Medicare beneficiaries seeking care from specialty providers. Read more here.