In this guide, the HRSA-supported National Rural Health Resource Center presents an overview of how to develop a Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). It also provides information on how sliding fee scale discount programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.