Federal Register notices of interest to rural health and human services, with information provided via the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2012 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/news/federalregister.php This document from the Department of Health and Human Services corrects technical errors that appeared in the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2010, entitled Health Insurance Issuers Implementing Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and in the correction notice published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2010, entitled Health Insurance Issuers Implementing Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Requirements Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Corrections to the Medical Loss Ratio Interim Final Rule With Request for Comments. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11773/health-insurance-issuers-implementing-medical-loss-ratio-mlr-under-the-patient-protection-and Wed, 16 May 2012 09:06:53 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11773/health-insurance-issuers-implementing-medical-loss-ratio-mlr-under-the-patient-protection-and This notice announces a forthcoming virtual meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The meeting will be held on May 30, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m./Eastern Time. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11776/hit-policy-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11776/hit-policy-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting This final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services amends the regulations implementing medical loss ratio (MLR) standards for health insurance issuers under the Public Health Service Act in order to establish notice requirements for issuers in the group and individual markets that meet or exceed the applicable MLR standard in the 2011 MLR reporting year. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11753/medical-loss-ratio-requirements-under-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11753/medical-loss-ratio-requirements-under-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act The Department of Labor (the Department) is providing notice of the judicial order enjoining the Department from implementing and enforcing the Temporary Non-agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the United States, published February 21, 2012 (the 2012 H-2B Final Rule). https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11859/temporary-non-agricultural-employment-of-h-2b-aliens-in-the-united-states Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11859/temporary-non-agricultural-employment-of-h-2b-aliens-in-the-united-states This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies reforms in Medicare and Medicaid regulations that CMS has identified as unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome on health care providers and beneficiaries. This rule increases the ability of health care professionals to devote resources to improving patient care, by eliminating or reducing requirements that impede quality patient care or that divert providing high quality patient care. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11543/medicare-and-medicaid-program-regulatory-provisions-to-promote-program-efficiency-transparency-and Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11543/medicare-and-medicaid-program-regulatory-provisions-to-promote-program-efficiency-transparency-and This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revises the requirements that hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11548/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-reform-of-hospital-and-critical-access-hospital-conditions-of Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/16/2012-11548/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-reform-of-hospital-and-critical-access-hospital-conditions-of The Department of Health and Human Services will accept comments through June 14, 2012, on draft proposals for a governance mechanism for the nationwide health information network. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/15/2012-11775/nationwide-health-information-network-conditions-for-trusted-exchange Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/15/2012-11775/nationwide-health-information-network-conditions-for-trusted-exchange This document affirms as final, without change, an interim final rule amending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations concerning the copayment required for certain medications. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/14/2012-11486/copayments-for-medications-in-2012 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/14/2012-11486/copayments-for-medications-in-2012 The Health Resources and Services Administration announces that the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health will convene its seventy - first meeting on June 18-20, 2012, in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting will be open to the public. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/14/2012-11598/national-advisory-committee-on-rural-health-and-human-services-notice-of-meeting Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/14/2012-11598/national-advisory-committee-on-rural-health-and-human-services-notice-of-meeting This notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for use to assist the homeless. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-11/html/2012-11091.htm Fri, 11 May 2012 09:49:02 CST http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-11/html/2012-11091.htm Comments are being requested by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a proposal to revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals to implement changes arising from their continuing experience with these systems and to implement certain statutory provisions contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively known as the Affordable Care Act) and other legislation. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/11/2012-9985/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-systems-for-acute-care-hospitals-and-the Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/11/2012-9985/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-systems-for-acute-care-hospitals-and-the This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The meeting will be held on June 6, 2012, in Washington, D.C. and will be open to the public. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/10/2012-11286/hit-policy-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting Thu, 10 May 2012 09:46:39 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/10/2012-11286/hit-policy-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The meeting will be held on June 20, 2012, in Washington, D.C. and will be open to the public. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/10/2012-11287/hit-standards-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/10/2012-11287/hit-standards-committee-advisory-meeting-notice-of-meeting The Rural Housing Service announces that it is soliciting applications under the Housing Preservation Grant program with funding to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/09/2012-11036/notice-of-funds-availability-for-the-section-533-housing-preservation-grants-for-fiscal-year-2012 Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/09/2012-11036/notice-of-funds-availability-for-the-section-533-housing-preservation-grants-for-fiscal-year-2012 The Veterans' Employment and Training Service, announces a grant competition for the Veterans Workforce Investment Program to assist eligible Veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing, networking information, and/or other assistance. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/09/2012-11116/veterans-employment-and-training-veterans-workforce-investment-program Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/09/2012-11116/veterans-employment-and-training-veterans-workforce-investment-program The Rural Utilities Service announces its Revolving Fund Program application window for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 to establish a fund that will finance water or wastewater systems for rural communities. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-10992/announcement-of-grant-and-loan-application-deadlines-and-funding-levels Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-10992/announcement-of-grant-and-loan-application-deadlines-and-funding-levels Rural Utilities Service, USDA announces that for Fiscal Year 2012, $15 million in grants will be awarded to the top scoring applications in rank order for the national competition announced in the Federal Register on February 24, 2011 (Vol. 76, No. 37). Therefore, applications for DLT grant funds will not be solicited in FY 2012. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-11045/distance-learning-and-telemedicine-grant-program#p-3 Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-11045/distance-learning-and-telemedicine-grant-program#p-3 This grant program from the Department of Education provides support for planning, conducting, administering, and evaluating centers for independent living. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-11081/applications-for-new-awards-centers-for-independent-living Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/08/2012-11081/applications-for-new-awards-centers-for-independent-living Comments are being requested by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on their conducting of competitive bidding programs in which certain suppliers will be awarded contracts to provide competitively bid DMEPOS items to Medicare beneficiaries in a competitive bidding area (CBA). CMS is preparing to recompete competitive bidding contracts in the Round 1 Rebid areas. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-07/html/2012-10947.htm Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 CST http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-07/html/2012-10947.htm This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implements section 2401 of the Affordable Care Act, which establishes a new State option to provide home and community-based attendant services and supports. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/07/2012-10294/medicaid-program-community-first-choice-option Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/07/2012-10294/medicaid-program-community-first-choice-option This notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for use to assist the homeless. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/04/2012-10454/federal-property-suitable-as-facilities-to-assist-the-homeless Fri, 04 May 2012 10:26:18 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/04/2012-10454/federal-property-suitable-as-facilities-to-assist-the-homeless Comments are being requested by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on a comprehensive set of closing and other documents used in connection with transactions involving healthcare facilities (excluding hospitals) that are insured pursuant to section 232 of the National Housing Act (Section 232). https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10687/federal-housing-administration-fha-healthcare-facility-documents-proposed-revisions-and-updates-and Thu, 03 May 2012 10:11:27 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10687/federal-housing-administration-fha-healthcare-facility-documents-proposed-revisions-and-updates-and USDA Rural Development announces the availability of grants from the Household Water Well System Grant Program to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs to construct or repair household water wells for an existing home. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10615/household-water-well-system-grant-program-announcement-of-application-deadlines-and-funding#p-3 Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10615/household-water-well-system-grant-program-announcement-of-application-deadlines-and-funding#p-3 The Rural Utilities Service, announces its Community Connect Grant Program application window to provide grants that to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will provide currently unserved areas, on a community-oriented connectivity basis, with broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10614/announcement-of-grant-application-deadlines-and-funding-levels Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10614/announcement-of-grant-application-deadlines-and-funding-levels Comments are being requested by the Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for revising regulations applicable to, and closing documents used in, FHA insurance of regulations governing insurance of healthcare facilities (nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, board and care homes, and assisted-living facilities.) This rule proposes amendments to update HUD's Section 232 regulations, to reflect current policy and practices, and to improve accountability and strengthen risk management. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10690/federal-housing-administration-fha-section-232-healthcare-facility-insurance-program-strengthening Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10690/federal-housing-administration-fha-section-232-healthcare-facility-insurance-program-strengthening This document from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects a technical error that appeared in the proposed rule published elsewhere in this Federal Register today entitled Medicaid Program; State Plan Home and Community-Based Services, 5-Year Period for Waivers, Provider Payment Reassignment, and Setting Requirements for Community First Choice. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10677/medicaid-program-state-plan-home-and-community-based-services-5-year-period-for-waivers-provider Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10677/medicaid-program-state-plan-home-and-community-based-services-5-year-period-for-waivers-provider This proposed rule with comment request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would revise Medicaid regulations to define and describe State plan home and community-based services. It also offers States new flexibility in providing necessary and appropriate services to elderly and disabled populations, provider payment reassignment, and setting requirements for community first choice https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10385/medicaid-program-state-plan-home-and-community-based-services-5-year-period-for-waivers-provider Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10385/medicaid-program-state-plan-home-and-community-based-services-5-year-period-for-waivers-provider The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is requesting nominations for public members of the council to advise the Secretary of HHS and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on matters related to activities of the Agency to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10595/national-advisory-council-for-healthcare-research-and-quality-request-for-nominations-for-public Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/03/2012-10595/national-advisory-council-for-healthcare-research-and-quality-request-for-nominations-for-public This notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration solicits comments on Parts A through F of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/02/2012-10508/ryan-white-hivaids-program-solicitation-of-comments Wed, 02 May 2012 09:18:21 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/02/2012-10508/ryan-white-hivaids-program-solicitation-of-comments This notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for use to assist the homeless. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/04/27/2012-9856/federal-property-suitable-as-facilities-to-assist-the-homeless Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:55:57 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/04/27/2012-9856/federal-property-suitable-as-facilities-to-assist-the-homeless