Rural Health
Top Stories
Top news stories from the past 60 days. For more, see news by topic or news by state.
HRSA: Health Center Program Performance Period Extensions
Federal Register
Aug 7, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of an extension of the standard performance period for health center grantees from 3 to 4 years. The extended performance period will provide current health centers additional time to serve their service area before they apply for a new award. Includes a list of 194 health center awardees that will receive a one-year extension with funds for a total 4-year performance period. This update will not change the statutory requirement that health centers that fail to comply with Health Center Program requirements will receive a 1-year performance period if a new project period is awarded.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 15, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing: 1) changes to the
Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B payment
policies; 2) policies for the Medicare Prescription Drug
Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act
of 2022; 3) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 4) updates to
the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model; 5)
updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B;
6) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 7) updates
to the Quality Payment Program; 8) updates to policies for
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health
Centers (FQHCs); 9) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule
regulations; 10) codification of the Inflation Reduction
Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 provisions;
and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability
Program. Comments are due on September 12, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model
Federal Register
Jul 1, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a 6-year model, the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model. The WISeR Model will test the implementation of technology-enabled prior authorization processes for select services, with the aim of reducing fraud, waste (including low-value care), and abuse in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) in six states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. This notice is effective January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 27, 2025 - The Consensus-Based Entity (CBE) Report on 2024 Activities
to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services, and the Secretary's comments on the
report, are published by the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) in the Federal Register in accordance with
the Social Security Act. The report includes a summary of
the CBE's consideration of challenges related to quality
measure reporting for rural providers and rural facilities,
and shares recommendations to improve rural health.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
Federal Register
Jun 25, 2025 - Notice of final rule related to implementation of Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance
Marketplace. Among other things, this rule revises
standards relating to past-due premium payments;
establishes the evidentiary standard HHS uses to assess an
agent's, broker's, or web-broker's potential noncompliance;
revises standards related to income eligibility
verifications for premium tax credits and cost-sharing
reductions, annual eligibility redetermination, the annual
open enrollment period and special enrollment periods; and
more. These regulations are effective August 25, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 24, 2025 - Announces new requirements for HRSA-funded health centers
to provide insulin and injectable epinephrine to low-income
patients at or below the price paid by health centers
through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Jun 24, 2025 - Advises health and public health organizations to prepare
for the potential of increased cyber threats. Includes
suggestions such as reviewing vulnerability management
strategies, contingency plans, and implementing increased
actions and routines focused on a defensive cybersecurity
position. Shares the related Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)
Bulletin and additional resources to enhance cybersecurity
for health and public health organizations.
Source: Office of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection (OCIP), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
Jun 17, 2025 - Announces the disclosure avoidance research program for the
upcoming 2030 Census that is intended to improve
statistical safeguards to keep public response data
confidential, and ensure the quality and usability of the
resulting data products and publications. Covers research
objectives, background information on decision points and
processes, and a timeline for completing and implementing
the disclosure avoidance research leading up to the 2030
Census.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Jun 17, 2025 - Announces the first cohort of the new Rural Hospital
Stabilization Program (RHSP) consisting of 8 rural
hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) across the
U.S. RHSP is supported by the Federal Office of Rural
Health Policy (FORHP) and administered by the National
Rural Health Resource Center to provide technical
assistance and recommendations to rural hospitals on
financial assessments, operational performance, and
opportunities to fill gaps and enhance healthcare services
for the communities and populations they serve.
Source: National Rural Health Resource Center
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