Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Cutting Administrative Requirements for Excellence in Patient Care

Federal Register

Nov 6, 2026

Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposing to modify, remove, or streamline Medicare and Medicaid regulations deemed obsolete or excessively burdensome on healthcare providers and suppliers. These changes aim to reduce costs, enhance flexibility in delivering innovative care, and streamline existing regulations. Outlines proposed revisions for hospitals, long-term care facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Rural Emergency Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Among other things, this proposed rule includes requests for information on potential changes to regulations regarding transplant programs, supervision of anesthesia services, and hospital and CAH respiratory illness and infectious disease data reporting. Comments are due 60 days after the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Critical Access Hospitals · Healthcare facilities · Healthcare quality · Hospitals · Legislation and regulations · Maternal health and prenatal care · Medicaid · Medicare · Rural Emergency Hospitals · Scope of practice