Home >
Government Affairs > Regulatory Affairs Updates
Regulatory Affairs Updates
In addition to legislation, federal regulations
can have a tremendous impact on the rural healthcare system. The NRHA frequently
comments on proposed regulations so that rural Americans have a voice in
the regulatory process. Here you will find the latest comments submitted
to federal agencies by the NRHA, as well as important information from various
federal agencies.
NRHA Submits Hospital Telemedicine Credentialing Privileging Comment Letter to CMS (7/27/10)
The National Rural Health
Association submitted its comment letter this week in response to CMS' proposed
changes affecting Hospital and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conditions of
Participation (CoPs) Credentialing and Privileging of Telemedicine Physicians
and Practitioners. The letter voices the NRHA's gratitude that CMS is seeking
to lessen the duplicative burdens associated with credentialing and privileging
professionals performing telemedicine services via larger distant "hub"
hospitals, but also our concern that its limited scope does not reach far enough
to include accredited non-hospital telemedicine services. Under the proposed
guidance, hospitals utilizing accredited non-hospital telemedicine services, for
instance smaller ambulatory care or tele-radiology centers, will still be
required to perform credentialing and privileging services even if those
distant-site professionals are accredited through the service from which they
operate.
NRHA Added to HPSA/MUP Committee (7/21/10)
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today a revised
membership list for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations
(MUA/P) negotiated rulemaking committee.
The new list, which has increased from 24 to 28 members,
includes National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan as a
participant. Previously excluded from
the committee, the NRHA fought to fix this obvious oversight by HRSA. This effort's success was due in large part
to the help of the numerous NRHA members and friends who offered to call and
write Dr. Wakefield and their Congressional representatives to ensure broad
rural representation on the committee.
For this, we are extremely grateful.
Additionally, the NRHA greatly appreciates Dr. Wakefield and HRSA for
their willingness to reassess the committee makeup and their continued
commitment to improving health care in rural America.
NRHA Gains Victories in Meaningful Use and Certification Criteria Final Rules (7/13/10)
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) congratulates HHS on today's release
of final rules regulating criteria for the electronic health record incentive
program or 'meaningful use,' and the release of final criteria for EHR
standards necessary for vendor products to meet meaningful use certification.
The final rule adopts significant changes and reflects many of the
concerns raised by the NRHA during the comment period.
White House appoints Donald M. Berwick to head of CMS (7/8/10)
On
Wednesday, the White House appointed Donald M. Berwick to the position of
Administrator of the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Obama
administration is using this week's congressional recess to bypass a Senate
confirmation hearing in a move known as a "recess appointment." However, since
Mr. Berwick's appointment comes without congressional confirmation, the
appointment only lasts one calendar year.
NRHA Submits Comments to CMS for FY 2011 IPPS Proposed Rule (6/22/10)
The NRHA submitted the following
comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its
proposed changes to the 2011 Inpatient Prospective Payment System for acute and
long-term care hospitals, and its supplemental proposed rule based on the recent
health reform bill's requirements.
Office of National Coordinator Issues Final Rule on EHR Technology (6/22/10)
On June 18, 2010, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued a final rule that establishes a temporary program for certification of electronic health record technology. This program sets the guidelines that organizations need to follow in order to be authorized by the National Coordinator to test and certify their EHR Technology.
Using "Certified EHR technology" is a requirement for providers seeking to qualify for incentive payments under provisions authorized in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act that was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
NRHA Submits Comment Letter on CMS First Stage Meaningful Use Guidelines (3/15/10)
The NRHA submitted the following comments to CMS regarding its proposed guidelines for the first stage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) electronic health record (EHR) incentive payment program. The proposed rule is the first in a series of CMS guidelines relating to ARRA's Meaningful Use standards. While the NRHA believes widespread adoption of EHR is a key component to fixing many of rural America's current health barriers, we also have significant concerns with a number of the proposed rule's provisions.
NRHA comments on FCC proposed rules (1/14/10)
The NRHA has commented on two net neutrality rules proposed by the Federal Communications Commission. "A National Broadband Policy is of particular interest to the NRHA, especially as it pertains to the intersection of rural healthcare and broadband Internet access," said Alan Morgan, CEO. "I am hopeful that the proposed additional net neutrality principles will receive the scrutiny from the FCC that they deserve as we look forward to increasing rural broadband Internet deployment and access, supporting the use of telemedicine, and promoting reasonable network management as it relates to lifesaving applications."
To read the full comments, click here.
NRHA comments on CMS proposed rule changes (9/3/09)
NRHA recently submitted comments to the CMS proposed rule for changes to the 2010 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), which were due on August 31. NRHA commented on sections related to physician supervision provisions important to maintaining patient access to rural hospitals, as well as proposals on outpatient quality and data requirements, specified covered outpatient drug payments, and the continuation of the 7.1 percent add-on “hold harmless” payment to rural hospitals.
For the entire document, please click here.
Get involved in rural health policy making (8/4/09)
Each year the NRHA membership produces a Legislative and Regulatory Agenda that details the policy agenda of the association. As we prepare for 2010, we ask all members to take some time to read the 2009 Agenda and suggest any needed additions, changes or amendments. You can submit these changes via an online form. Submissions are due September 3.