Rural Hospitals – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Apr 11, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2025. Contains details of proposed changes impacting Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals and payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals, among other things. Comments are due by June 10, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System-Rate Update
Federal Register
Apr 3, 2024 - 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 the IPF Quality Reporting Program beginning with the FY 2027 payment determination. Seeks comments regarding potential future revisions to the IPF prospective payment system (PPS) facility-level adjustments and the development of a standardized IPF Patient Assessment Instrument. Comments are due by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 29, 2024 - 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
Mar 29, 2024 - The Missouri Department of Social Services announced the approval of a waiver amendment allowing for full deployment of the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) pilot project. This primary care case management model addresses social care challenges that affect people's ability to remain healthy and manage chronic conditions.
Source: Fox23
Mar 7, 2024 - Reports on financial struggles for rural hospitals across the country leading to department and facility closures and many more at risk of closure. Highlights common rural health disparities and notes the impact of closures on rural communities. Discusses the impact of various policies on rural hospitals including Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement as well as the Rural Emergency Hospital designation.
Source: KFF Health News
Feb 28, 2024 - Describes the technical assistance available to rural hospitals through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Rural Health Association (NRHA). NRHA offers guidance with hospital finances and leadership training opportunities for administrators.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Feb 23, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH)-related provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. This rule provides more clarity on how the hospital-specific payment limit, the change that took effect on October 1, 2021, will be calculated. This rule also enhances administrative efficiency by making technical changes and clarifications to the DSH program. These regulations are effective April 23, 2024. Sections 447.295(b) and (d), 447.299(c)(6), (7), (10), and (16), and 455.304(d)(1), (3), (4), and (6) are applicable as of October 1, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Last Updated: 4/11/2024