December 3, 2024
Research Recap: HIV Care
This research recap outlines different types of telehealth and how they can be used to support HIV treatment and prevention.
Click Here to Read the Research Recap
Category: Resources
Calendar Year 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule
December 3, 2024
Calendar Year 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Hospital OPPS/ASC Payment System Final Rule (89 FR 93912) was published by the Office of the Federal Register on November 27, 2024.
Program information for outpatient quality reporting begins with cross-program changes for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program at Section XIV, pages 94367-94404; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=456.
Individual program information can be found in the following sections of the final rule:
- Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program at section XV/pages 94404-94425; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=493;
- Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program at section XVI/pages 94425-94430; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=514;
- Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program at section XVII/pages 94430-94440; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=519; and
- Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program at section XXII/pages 94495-94499; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=584.
Inpatient facilities participating in the Hospital IQR Program are encouraged to review the hybrid measure changes, which further extend the voluntary reporting period under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 payment determination.
Major provisions of the CY 2025 OPPS/ASC Payment System Final Rule are also discussed on the CMS website.
Become a Champion for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
December 2, 2024
Become a Champion for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a new national public awareness campaign for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) in conjunction with their latest Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative convening in Portland, Oregon.
As part of this new campaign, HHS announced the first six Maternal Mental Health Champions. They include:
- Grocery stores
- Pharmacies
- Community organizations
- Other institutions
Champions will raise awareness of the hotline at their thousands of locations across the nation, including Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
You can be a Hotline Champion by ordering and downloading 1-833-TLC-MAMA materials for free at any time to share with your friends, family, and network.
Click Here to see Maternal Mental Health Champion list
Click Here to Learn More about National Public Awareness Campaign
Click Here to Order and Download free TLC MAMA materials
Updates to the Definition of Rural Area
November 26, 2024
Updates to the Definition of Rural Area
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a final notice with updates to the criteria for defining rural areas. This update incorporates a new Road Ruggedness Scale from the Economic Research Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a technical clarification about treatment of Census Bureau-defined urban areas in the definition given the removal of the term Urbanized Areas following the 2020 Census. HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy uses this rural definition for determining rural health grant eligibility.
Click Here to view Road Ruggedness Scale
Click Here to see HRSA definition of Rural
New Rural Resources
November 26, 2024
New Rural Resources
To mark National Rural Health Day last week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released new resources highlighting rural health investments across the country and key programs in rural communities.
- Click Here to learn more about HRSA’s FY 2024 rural health investments to address health care needs in rural communities.
- Click Here to find out more about HRSA’s rural health investments in your state.
- Click Here to see infographic highlighting how HRSA supports rural maternal health.
- Click Here to listen to the Exploring Rural Health Podcast: Advancing Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities featuring Dr. Kristen Dillon, HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Chief Medical Officer. She shares the challenges and successes of maternal health care delivery in rural communities and how HRSA is working to improve maternal health outcomes.
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
Click Here to Read
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.
Click Here to Read More
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.
Click Here to Learn More
Telehealth Policy Update
November 19, 2024
Telehealth Policy Update
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule and CY2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which include telehealth policies.
Absent Congressional action, the statutory limitations in place for Medicare telehealth services prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency will take effect for most telehealth services beginning January 1, 2025.
Click Here to Read More
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