Category: HRSA

HRSA Launches a Nationwide Public Awareness Campaign to Promote the Maternal Mental Health Hotline

November 22, 2024

HRSA Launches a Nationwide Public Awareness Campaign to Promote the Maternal Mental Health Hotline

On Thursday, November 13, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a new nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA).

The National Maternal Health Hotline is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to improve maternal health and supports HRSA’s ongoing initiative to reduce maternal mortality and health disparities.

As part of the campaign, HHS will collaborate with companies and organizations such as retailers, grocers, pharmacies, and health and community associations to publicize mental health resources for moms and pregnant women in everyday locations.

Click Here to Read Release

2025 Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Additional Facility Payment Announced

November 22, 2024

2025 Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Additional Facility Payment Announced

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the 2025 monthly facility payment amount for REHs will be $285,625.90. congress created REHs to preserve access to emergency and outpatient services in rural areas.

Each REH receives the same Additional Facility Payment amount, and this payment is intended to support the operation and maintenance of the facility and furnishing of services. FORHP funds the Rural Health Redesign Center to provide 1:1 technical assistance to help hospitals and communities make informed decisions about converting to this model of care.

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Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition

November 22, 2024

Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition

Rural America at a Glance, 2024 edition, focuses on the age structure of the rural population and the implications of age-related demographic change including rural migration, employment, poverty, childcare, eldercare, and broadband

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Health Equity: Research Recap

November 22, 2024

Health Equity: Research Recap

This research recap describes how telehealth impacts health equity and opportunities for reducing health disparities.

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DEA Extends Telehealth Flexibilities

November 22, 2024

DEA Extends Telehealth Flexibilities

This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in concert with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a third extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2025.

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HRSA Announces Complete Lists of Health Professional Shortage Areas

November 18, 2024

HRSA Announces Complete Lists of Health Professional Shortage Areas

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) new lists, maintained and updated by HRSA’s Data Warehouse, were announced in the Federal Register last week. The lists identify all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Designations that are currently proposed for withdrawal will remain in this status until a second notice is published in the Federal Register.

Click Here to See New Lists

HRSA Health Center Performance Improvement Toolkit

November 8, 2024

HRSA Health Center Performance Improvement Toolkit

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has introduced a new Health Center Performance Improvement Toolkit.

The toolkit can be used to conduct self-assessments to understand the focus areas and potential activities needed to achieve your performance improvement goals.

The resources aim to:

  • Foster innovation
  • Enhance patient care
  • Improve health outcomes for underserved populations

Click Here to access the toolkit

Upcoming Webinar: Access to Maternity Care in Rural U.S. Communities, November 14

November 8, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Access to Maternity Care in Rural U.S. Communities, November 14

Consider joining this webinar where the leadership of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center Maternity Care Team will provide a timely update on critical issues impacting maternal health in rural U.S. communities.

The presentation will describe disparities in maternal health outcomes for rural populations, the growing scarcity of obstetric care, and the far-reaching consequences of obstetric unit closures.

Additionally, the presentation will delve into the reasons behind these closures and examine policy solutions aimed at improving access to maternal health care and advancing health equity.

Registration is free and required. Attendance of the live webinar is limited to 500 persons. If you are unable to attend, you will be able to access the recording, archived on the Gateway website.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, November 14, 10:00 a.m.

Click Here to Register

Medicare Finalizes New Standards for Hospital Obstetric Care

November 8, 2024

Medicare Finalizes New Standards for Hospital Obstetric Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Outpatient Hospital Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule for Calendar Year 2025.

In addition to annual updates in outpatient hospital Medicare payment rates, this rule finalizes new standards for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with obstetric (OB) units regarding maternal quality assessment and performance improvement, the organization, staffing, and delivery of OB care, and staff training on evidence-based maternal health practices.

For hospitals and CAHs with emergency services, it adds standards on facility readiness in caring for emergency services’ patients, including pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women.

The rule also finalizes new transfer policies for hospitals that mirror the current CAH and Rural Emergency Hospital standards. These Conditions of Participation (CoPs) will be phased in over two years.

Click Here to Read Final Rule

Policy Update: Medicare Finalizes Changes to Medicare Home Health Program, Effective January 1, 2025

November 8, 2024

Policy Update: Medicare Finalizes Changes to Medicare Home Health Program, Effective January 1, 2025

On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update final rule, which updates the Medicare payment policies and rates for home health agencies (HHAs).

CMS projects an increase in aggregate payments by 0.5 percent, and finalizes a permanent prospective adjustment of 1.975% to the CY 2025 home health payment rate.

CMS finalized a new standard for acceptance to service policy in the Home Health Conditions of Participation (HH CoPs) and their proposal with modification to require ongoing respiratory illness reporting for Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities. The rule is effective January 1, 2025.

Click Here to see 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update final rule