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Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program and Value-Based Purchasing Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2025
Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) that would update the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2025. Includes proposals to rebase and revise the SNF market basket to reflect a 2022 base year; update the wage index used under the SNF PPS to reflect data collected during the most recent decennial census; technical revisions to the code mappings used to classify patients under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to improve payment and coding accuracy; and update the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporti...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 1, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: FY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System--Rate Update
Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2025 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Includes proposed revisions to the patient-level adjustment factors, the Emergency Department adjustment, and the payment amount for electroconvulsive therapy; and seeks to adopt a new quality measure and modify reporting requirements under t...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 1, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: DHS: Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act
Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking comments on the practical and policy issues related to the implementation of regulations regarding covered cyber incident and ransom payment reporting requirements for covered entities, as required by the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA). Includes rural references throughout and encourages comments regarding the impact of proposed requirements on small entities. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for April 4, 2024. (Source: Federal Re...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 1, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program
Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2025. Among other things, this rule proposes updates to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) market area delineations for the IRF prospective payment system (PPS) wage index, proposes a 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and includes proposals for the IRF Quality Reporting Program. 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 - March 29, 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) Conditions for Certification for Rural Health Clinics and Conditions for Coverage for Federally Qualified Health Centers in42 CFR 49 and 2) Establishment of Qualified Health Plans and American Health Benefit Exchanges. 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 - March 28, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 and Updates to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program
Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2025. Among other things, this rule proposes updates to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) market area delineations for the IRF prospective payment system (PPS) wage index, proposes a 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and includes proposals for the IRF Quality Reporting Program. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for March 29, 2024. (Sourc...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 28, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: Treasury, DOL, HHS: Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance and Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage
Pre-publication notice of final rules from the Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amending the definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance, which is excluded from the definition of individual health insurance coverage under the Public Health Service Act. This notice also amends the regulations for hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance to be considered an excepted benefit in the group and individual health insurance markets. These regulations are effective 75 days after the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for April ...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 28, 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) ADA Dental Claim Form; and 2) Machine Readable Data for Provider Network and Prescription Formulary Content for FFM QHPs. Comments are due by April 26, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 27, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

VA: Methodology for Reimbursing Medical Services, Extended Care Services, Pharmaceuticals, and Durable Medical Equipment Not on Medicare Fee Schedules
Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making changes to rates contained within the VA fee schedule, which is used as part of the rate structure for certain agreements the VA uses to purchase community care under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). This notice also describes the VA's use of non-reimbursable codes and industry-standard business practices to ensure consistent adjudication of claims for services deemed non-billable or non-reimbursable. These changes are effective March 27, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 27, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Public Inspection: CMS: Medicaid Program: Streamlining the Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Application, Eligibility Determination, Enrollment, and Renewal Processes
Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to simplify the eligibility and enrollment processes in Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Basic Health Program. This rule aligns enrollment and renewal requirements for most individuals in Medicaid; creates timeliness requirements for redeterminations of eligibility; makes transitions between programs easier; eliminates access barriers for children enrolled in CHIP by prohibiting premium lock-out periods, benefit limitations, and waiting periods; and modernizes recordkeeping requirement...
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 27, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) In-Person Meeting
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) will hold an in-person public meeting on April 18, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Presentations and written comments must be submitted to thedesignated federal official by April 4, 2024. Agenda items include remarks from CMS leadership; a recap of the February 2024 meeting; a discussion of CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities; and more.Registration is required. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 26, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS: Meetings of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) on May 21-22, 2024. The PACCARB advises and provides information and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS regarding programs and policies intended to reduce or combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may present a public health threat. The confirmed times, agenda, and information on how to register and provide public comment during the meeting will be published on thePACCARB website. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 25, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Census Bureau: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; The American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS)
The U.S. Census Bureau is providing an additional 30 days for comments on proposed revisions to the American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey. Changes cover household roster, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, disability, and labor force questions. 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 - March 25, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

VA: Revised VA Tribal Consultation Policy and Directive 8603
Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeking comments on updates to its policy and directive on VA Tribal Consultation. VA has gathered and reviewed tribal input and recommendations from previous requests for comments, tribal consultation meetings, and the VA's Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs and proposes several edits to the Tribal Consultation Policy in response to the tribal recommendations. Comments are due by April 22, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 22, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS: Medicare Program; Application by the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) for Continued CMS Approval of Its Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) Accreditation Program
Announcement from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) as a national accrediting organization providing home infusion therapy services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. The approval is effective March 27, 2024, through March 27, 2030. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - March 22, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news