Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

Pennsylvania Study to Examine Rural Workforce

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West Chester University is undertaking a research study on access to maternity and obstetric services in rural Pennsylvania. They are looking for participation from anyone who can shed light on maternity care workforce issues in rural Pennsylvania. Take the survey here. Responses are requested by Jan. 29, 2021. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is funding this study.

Primary Care Practices Average Losses of $68,000 Per Physician

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A new Health Affairs study estimates that drops in patient volume at primary care practices last spring led to average revenue losses of nearly $68,000 per physician. In a recent feature, the Commonwealth Fund featured results of a conversation with leaders of primary care and other ambulatory care practices to learn how they were coping with operating losses and other disruptions from the pandemic while continuing to serve patients.

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Deadline and Requirements Changed

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On January 15, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) postponed the first deadline for providers to report on how they used their Provider Relief Fund (PRF) funding. This deadline had been set for Feb. 15, 2021; HHS has yet to set a new deadline. HHS also issued updated PRF reporting requirements, which supersede all previous versions. The most significant update is the option to define “lost income” using “any reasonable method. These and other deadlines/requirements around federal COVID-19 funding are available on the NACHC COVID-19 “mega-spreadsheet”.  Some highlights of the updated PRF reporting requirements:

  • PRF funds must be spent to cover unreimbursed COVID-related expenses before they can be allocated to lost revenues.
  • The definition of “COVID-19 related expenses” continues to be broad, and can include mortgage payments, HIT systems, utilities, etc.
  • For CY 2020, providers can define “lost revenues” in one of three ways:
  • Difference between CY2019 and CY2020 actual patient care revenue
  • Difference between 2020 budgeted and 2020 actual patient care revenue. Providers who use this approach must provide evidence and attestation that their budgeted revenue was determined prior to March 27, 2020.
  • Using “any reasonable method of estimating revenue.” Providers using this approach must describe their methodology, explain why it is reasonable, and demonstrate that the lost revenues were due to COVID-19. HHS explicitly states that providers using this approach are more likely to be audited.
  • For CY 2021, providers are not permitted to calculate lost revenues using “any reasonable method.” Rather, Jan-June 2021 actual revenue must be compared to 2019 actual revenue or 2020 budgeted revenue for the same 6-month period.

As in previous versions of the reporting requirements, providers receiving over $500,000 in PRF funding must report their expenses in greater detail than those receiving less than $500,000. If a provider earned interest in PRF payments, they must provide information on that interest and how it was used.

CMS Rule Change Lets Physicians Prescribe Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Without Waiver

Posted on by hjr5089

New federal guidance announced on Jan. 15, 2021, by the Trump administration will allow most physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder without a waiver. The move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminates the eight-hour “X-waiver” course physicians were required to complete by the Drug Enforcement Agency before prescribing buprenorphine treatment. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other approved advanced practice nurses will still need to obtain an X waiver before prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. For additional information, visit HMA Institute on Addiction at https://hmaioa.com/.

New Waiver Expands the Significant Role of Pharmacists in COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

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In view of the fact that many Pennsylvanians will go to their local pharmacy for vaccination, and to eliminate any confusion or uncertainty regarding qualified pharmacists’ ability to enroll as providers and to order and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of State requested, and the Governor approved, a temporary suspension of the order/written protocol requirements set forth in 49 Pa. Code § 27.404. Read more.

Modifications Proposed to the HIPAA Privacy Rule

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the standards for the Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). The modifications are intended to address standards that may impede the transition to value-based health care by limiting or discouraging care coordination and case management communications among individuals and covered entities (including hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers, payors, and insurers) or posing other unnecessary burdens.

Biden $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Update

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On January 15, 2021, then President-Elect Biden announced his COVID-19 and stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan, hoping Congress will take up and pass the legislation. Biden specifically included Community Health Centers, wanting to increase partnerships with health centers and boost their federal funding. In it, Biden calls to “launch a new partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide.” Other elements of the plan include:

  • Mount a $20 billion national vaccination program in partnership with states, localities, and Tribes. This will include launching community vaccination centers nationwide and deploying mobile vaccination units to hard-to-reach areas. Also, ensure that everyone receives the vaccine for free, regardless of their immigration status.
  • Invests $50 billion in a massive expansion of testing, including for purchasing rapid tests, expanding lab capacity, and helping schools and local governments implement regular testing protocols.
  • Funding 100,000 public health workers to perform vaccine outreach and contact tracing in the short term, and eventually to transition into community health roles.
  • Address shortages of critical supplies, including PPE, by investing $30 billion to provide 100% federal reimbursement for critical emergency response resources to states, local governments, and Tribes, including deployment of the National Guard. Also invest $10 billion to expand domestic manufacturing for pandemic supplies.
  • Extend and expand emergency paid leave measures until Sept. 30, 2021.
  • Reduce the number of uninsured persons by having Congress subsidize (COBRA) through the end of September and expand and increase Premium Tax Credits for Marketplace plans.
  • Expand access to behavioral health services by asking Congress to appropriate $4 billion to HRSA and SAMHSA. (Presumably, some of this would go to FQHCs.)

Pennsylvania Launches Retail Pharmacy Partnership

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Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the Department of Health requested the federal government launch the Retail Pharmacy Partnership with two retail partners, TopCo Associates, LLC, and Rite Aid, to expand access to vaccinate healthcare personnel, and eventually other phases of the state’s vaccine plan.