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SAMHSA: Meeting of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council (CMHS NAC) will hold a public meeting on February 27, 2024. Agenda items include updates from the SAMHSA CMHS director, remarks from SAMHSA's Assistant Secretary, updates on Statewide Consumer Network Grants, updates on subcommittee tasks, legislative updates, and tribal updates. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on theSAMHSA website prior to the meeting.Registration is required. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 17, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

AHRQ: Supplemental Evidence and Data Request on Updating the Measurement Criteria for AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR)
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking scientific information submissions to inform its review onUpdating the Measurement Criteria for AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR). Includes background information and key questions related to the review. Thefull research protocol is available for review on the AHRQ website. Submissions are due by February 15, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CDC: Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a proposed information collection project titled "National Youth Tobacco Surveys (NYTS)." Information collected through the NYTS is used to identify trends over time, inform the development of tobacco cessation programs for youth, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions and programs. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CDC: Meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Health Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a virtual public meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors National Center for Health Statistics (BSC NCHS) on March 6, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include an update by the NCHS Director, an update on CDC's Data Modernization Initiative (DMI), program updates from NCHS Division Directors, and time for discussion regarding current issues and topics. Instructions on how to view the live meeting will be posted o n theBSC NCHS website. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey for Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS); 2) Virtual Groups for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS); and 3) Quality Improvement Strategy Implementation Plan, Progress Report, and Modification Summary Supplement Forms. Comments are due by February 15, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC: Ensuring the Reliability and Resiliency of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications; Implementation of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018
Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requiring covered 988 service providers and cable, satellite, wireless, wireline, and interconnected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) providers to report outages that potentially affect the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the Commission's Network Outage Reporting System (NORS). Among other things, this rule also requires these entities to directly notify Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the 988 Lifeline administrator about outages that potentially affect a 988 special f...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Census Bureau: Draft Plan for Providing Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research
The Census Bureau is seeking comment on the "Draft U.S. Census Bureau Plan for Providing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research" in response to the August 2022 Memorandum from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). This plan applies to research funded by the Census Bureau, presented in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and other scientific data defined in the memo. Comments are due by March 12, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 12, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS: Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partially rescinding theMay 21, 2019, final rule, "Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care; Delegations of Authority." The Department retains, with some modifications, certain provisions of the 2019 Final Rule regarding federal conscience protections but eliminates others because they are redundant or confusing, undermine the balance Congress struck between safeguarding conscience rights and protecting access to healthcare access, or because significant questions have been raised as to their legality. This rule leaves in effect t...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 11, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC: Connect America Fund
Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission announcing that the Office of Management and Budget has approved an information collection related to the rules for the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A –CAM) contained in the FCC's Enhanced A–CAM Order. This rule serves to put into effect theA-CAM Order rule as published on August 17, 2023 and is effective January 11, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 11, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission making effective changes to the Rural Health Care Program, which provides support to assist rural health care providers with the costs of broadband and other eligible services by offering discounted rates for these services. These changes are outlined in the FCC's Third Report and Order and is effective on February 12, 2024, except for sections 54.601(b) and (c) (amendatory instruction 2) and 54.622(e)(1)(i) through (ii) and (i)(3)(iv) (amendatory instruction 4), which are delayed indefinitely. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 11, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS: Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee
Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing the 2024 meetings of the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), which will include discussion and voting on proposals for physician-focused payment models (PFPMs). The 2024 meeting dates are: March 25-26, June 10-11, September 16-17, and December 2-3. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 10, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HUD: Submission for Community Development Block Grant Program, Consolidated Plans, and Indian Community Development Block Grant Program Changes
Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposing to revise the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and related Section 108 loan guarantee program regulations to make it easier for recipients to promote economic development and recovery in low- and moderate-income communities and support investments in underserved areas. Among other things, this rule also proposes corresponding changes to the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program regulations to align with the CDBG program regulation revisions. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this ...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 10, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS: Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) that would establish new Conditions and Maintenance of Certification requirements for health information technology (health IT) developers under the ONC Health IT Certification Program. This rule will also update certification criteria and implementation specifications recognized by the Program, establish a new baseline version of the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI), and provide enhancements to support information sharing under the information block...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 9, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

GAO: Request for Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Nominations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for appointment to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) by February 9, 2024. Appointments are effective May 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 9, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS: Solicitation for Public Comments on Questions From the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health
Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Task Force on Maternal Mental Health seeking public comments on a set of questions concerning the context, policies, effectiveness, promising practices, and limitations and gaps related to prevention and treatment of maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders and its complications. The Task Force will evaluate and make recommendations to the SAMHSA Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS) for further deliberation regarding improvements and coordination for Federal ac...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 9, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news