- Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
- Food Stamps Go Further in Rural Areas — Until You Add Transportation Costs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in the State of Texas
- CMS Proposes New Payments for Digital Health Under CY2025 PFS Draft Rule
- Improving Public Health by Strengthening Community Infrastructure
- Biden Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
- Nearly Half of U.S. Counties Don't Have a Single Cardiologist
- Randolph County, Ill. Turns Unused Part of Nursing Home Into State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- Expert: Rural Hospitals Are Particularly Vulnerable to Increasing Cyberattacks Targeting Healthcare Facilities
- Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $200 Million to Help Primary Care Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Care Providers Improve Care for Older Adults
- AJPH Call for Papers Special Section on Intersections of Public Health And Primary Care
- NIH HEAL Initiative Turns Attention to Pragmatic Trials in Rural Communities
- Limited Continuing-Care Options in Rural Virginia Create Challenges for an Aging Population
Here is An Important Notice for HRSA Grantees
On May 26, HRSA will follow a federal upgrade to security measures for online systems requiring a login for external users. The new multi-factor login procedure will affect those who access HRSA’s Electronic Handbook (EHB) system, including grantees, grant applicants, service providers, and consultants. To avoid issues with upcoming application and reporting deadlines, it is important to set up the new login procedure ahead of the change on May 26.
Here You Can Find the Factors Associated With Lengths-of-Stay for Inpatients With Substance Use Disorder
The NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis finds that lengths of stay for rural inpatients in areas with no access to buprenorphine-waivered physicians were more than nine times higher than for urban patients.
Read About Distribution of Direct Care Workforce COVID-19 Funding Between Rural and Urban Counties in Minnesota and Illinois
Researchers from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examine the differences in the distribution of federal funding between rural and urban counties in Minnesota and Illinois.
You Can Find a Suicide Prevention Resource Center Here – Best Practices Registry
A listing of resources with demonstrated effectiveness organized by population served, approaches, and location – including urban vs. rural.
Here You Can Read About Telehealth and the End of the PHE
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) officially ended on May 11, but many Medicare telehealth flexibilities remain in place temporarily. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a fact sheet to provide clarity around federal telehealth flexibilities. HHS will release additional guidance on updates and timing relating to the continuation of these flexibilities in the coming weeks. Learn more about telehealth policy changes with the end of the PHE. Earlier this spring, NRHA sent a letter to HHS on PHE flexibilities we would like to see made permanent, including telehealth provisions, and we continue to advocate for legislative change in Congress.
GAO Released a Report on Rural Health Care Accessibility
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled, “Why Health Care is Harder to Access in Rural America.” The report found many rural residents face several challenges, including fewer health care providers, longer travel distances to get to health care, fewer transportation options, and less broadband internet. The report recommends that federal agencies learn more about the needs of rural residents and address the gaps in information regarding the healthcare needs of people living in rural areas. Join NRHA in fighting for rural health.
Good to Know! Read How PHE is Unwinding Resources
CMS Has Proposed a Rule on SNF Prospective Payment System: Comments Have Been Requested
CMS released its fiscal year (FY) 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System proposed rule. The proposed rule includes a 3.7% increase in payments to SNFs in FY 2024. This rule does not include the anticipated minimum staffing standards for nursing homes, which are expected later this spring. For more information, you can find NRHA’s full summary here. Please find CMS’ fact sheet here.
CMS Releases Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule: Comments Have Been Requested
CMS released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. NRHA’s full summary is available here. CMS also released a fact sheet. Key provisions include:
- Increased IPPS payments by 2.8% overall and 3.3% for rural hospitals.
- Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provisions include codifying conversion guidance and allowing REHs to be Medicare Graduate Medical Education eligible sites.
- The proposed policy that hospitals reclassified as rural must be treated like geographically rural hospitals for wage index calculations.
- A safety net hospital request for information.
CMS Has Proposed Rules Regarding Medicaid and CHIP: Comments Have Been Requested
CMS released two proposed rules regarding Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services and Medicaid and CHIP Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality. NRHA released summaries for both the access and managed care proposed rules. Comments on both proposed rules are due July 3, 2023, via regulations.gov.