Rural Health
News by Topic: Health information technology

New Rural Funding Can Support Accountable Care Through Data And Digital Investments

Apr 20, 2026 - Examines ways in which rural communities can create accountable care programs, using funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Notes that rural areas have tighter social networks, clearer referral pathways, and fewer competing delivery systems, which can support accountable care after infrastructure is in place.

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CMS, HHS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, and Issuers of Qualified Health Plans on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges Federal Register

Apr 14, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposing to improve the electronic exchange of healthcare data and streamline processes related to prior authorization by increasing the interoperability of systems used across the healthcare industry. Among other things, this rule proposes new requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, state Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) programs, state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) FFS programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) to make electronic prior authorization for drugs available; to report their application programming interfaces (API) endpoints and related information for the Patient Access, Provider Directory, Provider Access, Payer-to-Payer, and Prior Authorization APIs to CMS; and extend many existing interoperability requirements for the prior authorization of non-drug items and services to include prior authorizations for drugs. In addition, ONC proposes adopting updated versions of certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications for HHS use. Comments are due by June 15, 2026.

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R.I. Allots $33M for Rural and Home Health Care, Including IT Modernization

Apr 14, 2026 - Rhode Island Gov. Daniel J. McKee has submitted a budget amendment for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 that allocates $16.7 million for the state's Rural Health Information Technology Modernization Program. The amendment will support hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care practices, and behavioral health providers, and will allow pharmacists and dental hygienists to practice at the top of their licenses. An additional $16.2 million will be used to expand rural hospital-at-home programs.

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HHS: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority; Office of The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Federal Register

Apr 1, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reversing the July 29, 2024, notice that moved technology and data policy and strategy functions from the Assistant Secretary for Administration to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). This notice restores ONC as a singularly titled office. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of the HHS Chief Technology Officer, Office of the HHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and Office of the HHS Chief Data Officer will no longer be part of ONC.

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