Month: December 2024

CMS Seeking Input to Protect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers

December 20, 2024

CMS Seeking Input to Protect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting comments to inform future decision-making regarding how the agency can best protect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) and Medicare beneficiaries.

MBIs have been targeted by individuals seeking to commit Medicare fraud, including the use of MBI lookup tools to commit MBI theft. CMS is seeking input and information related to the following topic areas:

  • Organizations that operate an externally controlled MBI lookup tool;
  • Users of MBI lookup tools, both CMS-operated and externally controlled;
  • Potential benefit or impact of prohibiting or restricting externally controlled MBI lookup tools;
  • Safeguards or best practices from inside or outside healthcare that CMS should consider for preventing MBI theft and misuse.

Click Here for more information and the full list of questions.

To provide comments, Click Here and fill out and submit the survey by Monday, February 17.

Rural Health Research: Utilization of Inpatient and Emergency Services by Rural and Urban Medicaid Enrollees

December 19, 2024

Rural Health Research: Utilization of Inpatient and Emergency Services by Rural and Urban Medicaid Enrollees

This brief used data from the 2019 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files (TAF) to compare urban and rural residents enrolled in either fee-for-service or managed care Medicaid. Researchers focused on inpatient and emergency department (ED) health care utilization.

Key Findings:

  • Overall utilization by Medicaid enrollees, as measured by number of ED visits, number of inpatient admissions, inpatient length-of-stay, and inpatient readmission rate, is higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
  • Among enrollees who are at least 65 years old, most of whom had Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility, rural Medicaid enrollees had higher rates of inpatient admissions and ED visits than urban enrollees, while among those in the age categories of below 18 and 18-64 years old, urban enrollees had higher rates. Readmission rates and average inpatient length-of stay were higher in urban enrollees across all age categories.
  • Non-Hispanic Black enrollees had the highest utilization rates compared to enrollees that were non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic of any race. Hispanic enrollees of any race had the lowest utilization rates. Utilization was lowest in Isolated Rural Areas, and often highest in Large Rural areas.
  • Rural female enrollees (except those in Isolated Rural Areas) had higher rates of ED use compared to urban enrollees, while rural male enrollees had lower ED utilization than those in urban areas. Compared to urban areas, male and female enrollees in rural areas had shorter inpatient lengths-of-stay and lower readmission rates.

Click Here to Read Policy Brief

Rural Health Research: Variation in Elder Abuse State Statutes by State Level of Rurality

December 19, 2024

Rural Health Research: Variation in Elder Abuse State Statutes by State Level of Rurality

As older adults become a larger proportion of the population, their social and health needs continue to warrant further attention. This is particularly true for older adults in rural areas, where they are a relatively faster growing demographic compared with older adults in urban areas.

One public health concern that needs closer study is older adult maltreatment or elder abuse, and specifically social-contextual factors that lead to geographic differences in preventing and addressing abuse.

This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examines elements of state-level elder abuse statutes’ definitions and reporting requirements to investigate potential differences in these policies by state rurality.

Click Here to Read Policy Brief

Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program, HRSA-25-037, Apply by February 19

December 19, 2024

Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program, HRSA-25-037, Apply by February 19

The Rural Health Network Development Planning Program supports the planning and development of rural integrated health care networks with specific focus on collaboration of entities to establish or improve local capacity and care coordination in underserved communities. Specifically, the program uses the concept of developing networks as a strategy for linking rural health care network participants together to achieve greater collective capacity to overcome local challenges, expand access and improve the quality of care in the rural communities these organizations serve.

The program helps network participants work together on three legislative aims:

  • Achieve efficiencies
  • Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes
  • Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole

The intent is that rural health networks will do the following:

  • Expand access to care,
  • increase the use of health information technology,
  • explore alternative health care delivery models, and
  • continue to achieve quality health care across the continuum of care.

Examples of previously funded projects under this program can be found online at the Rural Health Information Hub.

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • City or township governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • State governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Special district governments
  • County governments
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Click Here to See Examples of Previously Funded Projects

Click Here to Access Evidence-Based Toolkits for Rural Community Health

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Funding Opportunity: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) HRSA-25-019, Apply by March 17

December 19, 2024

Funding Opportunity: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) HRSA-25-019, Apply by March 17

The purpose of the Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program  (HTPCP) HRSA-25-019, is to support community-based projects that promote access to preventive clinical and public health services for underserved children.

HTPCP projects must align with at least one of these child health topics:

  • Children’s behavioral health screenings and referrals
  • Children’s immunizations
  • Adolescents’ well-visits

Eligible Applicants

  • County governments
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
  • City or township governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Independent school districts
  • Small businesses
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Other Eligible Applicants

These types of domestic organizations may apply:

  • Public institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) IRS status
  • For profit organizations, including small business
  • State, county, city, township, and special district governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments
  • Native American tribal organizations

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

CMS Open Door Forum 2025 Schedule

December 19, 2024

CMS Open Door Forum 2025 Schedule

The CMS Open Door Forum is a platform where the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) engages in live dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders, allowing them to ask questions and receive clarification on:

  • Current policies
  • New initiatives, and
  • Updates related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other CMS programs.

The primary goal of the open forum is fostering open communication and collaboration between CMS and its stakeholders; essentially serving as a forum for addressing concerns and seeking answers directly from CMS.

Key Points about the CMS Open Door Forum

  • Open to anyone who interacts with CMS or works with individuals who rely on CMS services.
  • Topics covered can include coverage, payment, regulations, quality standards, billing and more depending on the specific forum.
  • CMS uses the forum to share updates on new policies, rulemaking, and program initiatives.
  • Participants can ask questions directly to CMS representatives to get clarification on issues.

Cost: Free

When: See Schedule below. Please note dates are subject to change.

2025 CMS Open Door Forum Schedule: 

You may choose to attend one or more of the following webinars:

  • HHE & DME Open Door Forum, January 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Hospital Open Door Forum, January 14, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Physicians, Nurses, and Allied Health Open Door Forum, January 16, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Rural Health Open Door Forum, January 23, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

RHIhub This Week Now Available

December 17, 2024

RHIhub This Week Now Available

RHIhub This Week keeps you informed of the latest rural news, funding opportunities, publications and events.

Click Here to Access RHIhub This Week

Open Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, HRSA-25-038, Apply by January 27

December 17, 2024

Open Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, HRSA-25-038, Apply by January 27

The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program is a community-based grant program that aims to support organizations to promote rural health care services outreach by improving and expanding the delivery of health care services to include new and enhanced services in rural areas.

To achieve this purpose, the program also aims to strengthen local resources and capacity in rural communities. Through collaborative consortiums that include three or more health care providers, each community can develop innovative approaches to solve their own unique challenges and factors underlying rural health disparities.

Eligible Applicants

  • City or township governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Special district governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Others (see below)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • County governments
  • Small businesses
  • State governments

Other Eligible Applicants

  • All domestic public or private, non-profit and for-profit entities

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Upcoming Webinar: Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

December 17, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

Dive into the fundamentals of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM) – define what they are, unpack their core concepts, and understand how they can enhance patient outcomes and care delivery.

Explore the nuances of navigating CMS reimbursement for these emerging care models, identifying key success factors to ensure program viability as well as potential pitfalls to sidestep along the way.

Target Audience

  • Administrators
  • Health professionals
  • FQHCs
  • RHCs
  • Hospitals

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, January 30, 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Upcoming Webinar: Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Rural Missouri, January 23

December 17, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Rural Missouri, January 23

Join the Missouri Rural Health Association (MRHA) and Findhelp for an engaging session addressing the pressing social needs impacting health in rural America.

In this session, MRHA will discuss current collaboration efforts with the Tennessee Rural Health Association, TennCare, and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Join this webinar to explore how these initiatives aim to address social determinants of health across rural regions, with key insights from projects in Tennessee, and Missouri. Discover innovative strategies, real-world lessons, and actionable takeaways to drive healthier outcomes through powerful, collaborative approaches.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, January 23, 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to register