CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held the Rural Health Open Door Forum on Thursday, January 24, 2019. The Rural Health Open Door Forum Agenda included several topics and information specific to rural providers.

1) CMS shared the ruling that was posted in November 2018 extending the timeline for publication of the “Medicare and Medicaid Program; Revisions to the Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Home Health Agencies” Final Rule. The extended timeline was based on both public comments and stakeholder feedback received that requires significant policy issue to be resolved. This rule extends the publication of the final rule till November 3, 2019.

2) National Quality Forum (NQF) report recommends that CMS make performance measurement mandatory for rural healthcare providers. The report summaries recommendations that came from a multistakeholder Rural Health Committee convened by NQF.  Marcia Wilson, senior vice president, quality measurement for NQF stated “ Quality improvement is important in all care settings and for all patients. The Rural Health Committee’s recommendations to CMS are an important step towards ensuring better quality of care for rural Americans.”The report recommends that CMS allow a phased in approach (over two to four years) for rural providers’ participation across all program types and that the agency address the challenge of low case volume in measurement.

3) CMS shared the Opioid Roadmap being used to address the Opioid Epidemic. To View the infographic, click here.

To listen to the recording which will be available beginning on Friday, January 25 for a limited time use the Encore #: 1-855-859-2056; Conference ID: 2872469.