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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Health insurance

Nov 5, 2025 - Notice of a final 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. These regulations are effective January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 31, 2025 - Describes challenges with offering labor and delivery services in rural Texas, discussing reimbursement, workforce shortages, and distance to care.
Source: The Optimist
Oct 26, 2025 - Discusses the impact of the expansion of Medicaid dental benefits on the oral health of Missouri residents. Notes that areas with dental workforce shortages are less likely to feel the positive impact of increases in reimbursement rates.
Source: Kansas City Magazine
Oct 8, 2025 - Louisiana has increased Medicaid reimbursement rates in an attempt to increase the number of physicians that will accept Medicaid patients. Discusses the impact on rural Louisiana where Medicaid use is higher.
Sep 29, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting an emergency extension of an information collection titled "Medicaid Program; Eligibility Changes under the Affordable Care Act of 2010" from October 31, 2025, to November 30, 2025. This extension would allow the information collection to remain active while it is in a 60-day comment period and provide CMS with time to publish a subsequent 30-day Federal Register notice.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medical Necessity and Contract Amendments Under Mental Health Parity." CMS uses the information collected and reported in an oversight role of State Medicaid managed care programs. Comments are due by November 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Complaints Submission Process under the No Surprises Act." Comments are due by November 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Model Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Individual Enrollment Request Form; 2) Hospital Notice: Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON); and 3) Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Program. Comments are due by November 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Supplemental Data Collection; 2) Medicare Registration Application; and 3) Medicare Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol. Comments are due by October 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 23, 2025 - Announces revisions to the State & Congressional District Profiles Dashboard to include metrics relevant for The Rural Transformation Fund including workforce shortage area designations, opioid overprescribing counties, and Medicaid coverage data. The Dashboard was created in partnership with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).
Source: Stroudwater Associates