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HHS: HIPAA Privacy Rule To Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) modifying the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule). This rule limits the circumstances in which provisions of the Privacy Rule permit the use or disclosure of an individual's protected health information (PHI) about reproductive healthcare for certain non-healthcare purposes that could be detrimental to privacy of the individual or another person or the individual's trust in their healthcare providers. This rule is effective June 25, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Medicare Program; Application by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) for Continued CMS Approval of its Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) Accreditation Program
Announcement from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) as a national accrediting organization providing home infusion therapy services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by May 28, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HRSA: Proposed Inclusion of Terrain Factors in the Definition of Rural Area for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is seeking comments on proposed modifications to the definition of rural areas by integrating the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) 2023 Road Ruggedness Scale (RRS). FORHP proposes including census tracts of at least 20 square miles in area in metro counties with RRS 5 (highly rugged) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) code 2 or 3 in its definition of rural areas. This notice also includes a technical clarification regarding how FORHP will use Census data to identify outlying Metropol...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

VA: Notice of Request for Information on the Department of Veterans Affairs; Marriage and Family Therapist Standard of Practice
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting information to assist in the development of a national standard of practice for VA marriage and family therapists. Outlines the proposed standard of practice, including education, state licensure, and tasks and duties the profession will be able to perform within the scope of their VA employment, among other things. Comments are due by June 25, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the revision of an information collection request titled "Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS)." The MCBS provides unique insight into the Medicare program and helps CMS and external stakeholders better understand and evaluate the impact of existing programs and significant new policy initiatives. Comments are due by June 25, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Health Insurance Common Claims Form and Supporting Regulations at42 CFR part 424, subpart C; and 2) Subpart D-Private Contracts and Supporting Regulations in42 CFR 405.410,405.430,405.435,405.440,405.445,405.455,410.61,415.110, and424.24. Comments are due June 25, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Announcement of the Re-Approval of AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies) as an Accreditation Organization Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988
Announcement from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application from Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) for re-approval as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for several specialty and subspecialty laboratories. CMS has re-approved AABB as an accreditation organization under CLIA and grants deeming authority for 6 years through April 25, 2030. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 25, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FNS: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) finalizing long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of theDietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemaking. Among other things, this rule phases in added sugars limits for the school lunch and breakfast programs and in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, implements a single sodium reduction in the school lunch and breakfast programs, and establishes long-term milk and whole grain requirements for school meals. Program operators will not be require...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 25, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC: Open Commission Meeting Thursday, April 25, 2024
The Federal Communications Commission will hold an open meeting on April 25, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Agenda items include a discussion of a proposed rule that would require the implementation of one or more georouting solutions for wireless calls to the 988 Suicide& Crisis Lifeline to ensure that calls are routed based on the geographic location of the origin of the call, among other things. The meeting can be viewed on theFCC website. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 24, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Medicare Program; Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program for Contract Year 2024-Remaining Provisions and Contract Year 2025 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) revising regulations for Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Revisions include Star Ratings, marketing and communications, agent/broker compensation, health equity, dual-eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs), utilization management, network adequacy, and other programmatic areas. These regulations are effective June 3, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Notice from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of the Medicaid and CHIP Program (MACPro) generic clearance process umbrella and the individual generic collection of information requests that fall under the MACPro umbrella. Comments are due by May 23, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting
Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) establishing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. This rule also requires states to report the percentage of Medicaid payments for certain Medicaid-covered institutional services that are spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. These regulations are effective on June 21, 2024, except for § 483.71, § 483.35(b)(1) and (c)(1), § 483.35(b)(1)(i) and (ii), and §§ 438.72(a) and 442.43 as indicated. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicaid Program: Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality
Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) advancing CMS' efforts to improve access to care, quality and health outcomes, and better address health equity issues for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care enrollees. This rule specifically addresses standards for timely access to care and States' monitoring and enforcement efforts, reduces burden for some State directed payments and certain quality reporting requirements, adds new standards that will apply when States use in lieu of services and settings (ILOSs) to promote effective utilization a...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicaid Program: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services
Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing improvements to increase transparency and accountability, standardize data and monitoring, and create opportunities for States to promote active beneficiary engagement in their Medicaid programs, with the goal of improving access to care. These regulations are effective 60 days after the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for May 10, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: HHS: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy
Pre-publication notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) modifying the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule). This rule limits the circumstances in which provisions of the Privacy Rule permit the use or disclosure of an individual's protected health information (PHI) about reproductive healthcare for certain non-healthcare purposes that could be detrimental to privacy of the individual or another person or the individual's trust in their healthcare providers. This rule is effective 60 days after the publication of this notice, which is s...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 23, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news