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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Apr 26, 2024 - Highlights 2 tools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track heat and air quality data. Discusses potential uses of the tools for Community Health Centers and outreach to farm workers.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, PBS, NPR
Apr 25, 2024 - Discusses new regulations for staffing minimums for nursing homes including analysis of rural-specific provisions. Offers staffing data for South Carolina nursing homes.
Source: South Carolina Daily Gazette
Apr 25, 2024 - 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
Apr 23, 2024 - Discusses an increase in dental deserts, particularly in rural communities due to workforce shortages and limited Medicaid reimbursements for dental care. Highlights a trend in Federally Qualified Health Centers to integrate dental care into primary care.
Source: The Week
Apr 23, 2024 - 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
Apr 20, 2024 - Discusses the impact of cyberattacks on hospital services. Notes the outsized impact an attack could have on rural hospitals.
Source: The Center Square
Apr 17, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection titled "Skilled Nursing Facility and Skilled Nursing Facility Complex Cost Report." The information collected will be used to determine the cost weights for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) market basket, conduct payment adequacy analyses, and determine reasonable costs. Comments are due by May 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 17, 2024 - Reports on a Minnesota hospital converting to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) in an effort to stabilize their budget. It would be the first in the state to convert to an REH.
Source: Star Tribune
Apr 16, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." The information collected will be used by CMS, state survey agencies, and long-term care (LTC) facilities to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements and quality of care provided to LTC residents. Revisions include new requirements proposed at 42 CFR 483.35 and new section 483.71, which were discussed in the September 6, 2023, proposed rule on page 61391. Comments are due by June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 12, 2024 - Highlights a 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Rural Health Care Grant recipient. Grant funds allowed for updating equipment and facilities for the rural Texas hospital.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Newsroom