Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register
Nov 18, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information." Medicare beneficiaries will use the Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information to authorize Medicare to disclose their protected health information to a third party. Comments are due by December 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Federal Register
Nov 18, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and State-Based Administering Entities (AEs), titled "Determining Eligibility for Enrollment in Applicable State Health Subsidy Programs Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." The matching program will enable CMS to provide information to AEs to assist in verifying applicant information to determine applicants' eligibility for enrollment in applicable state health subsidy programs, as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Comments are due by December 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 12, 2025 - Highlights 2 new California laws aiming to increase access to maternal healthcare services in rural areas. One law creates a 10 year pilot program to operate standby maternity units for emergency care rather than maintaining staff full time. A second law relaxes licensing rules for birth centers. Discusses new maternity care options as a result of the new policies in Plumas County where a maternity ward closed in 2022.
Source: Cal Matters
Nov 12, 2025 - Describes a medical coding and billing training for rural healthcare providers in Texas. The training aims to help small clinics accurately submit reimbursement claims so that financially vulnerable facilities can stay open.
Source: KBTX
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
Nov 3, 2025 - Highlights the beginnings and growth of a rural training program in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Discusses the focus on community involvement, workforce shortages, recruitment and retention, financial challenges, and the economic impact of healthcare.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine Newsroom
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 23, 2025 - Highlights a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Minnesota successfully offering labor and delivery services in spite of nationwide department closures. Describes the challenges with offering this service in rural communities and factors contributing to this CAH's success including participating in a network and cross-training staff. Includes a state map of maternity care deserts at the county level.
Source: MPR News
Oct 16, 2025 - Discusses the goals of a new nonprofit foundation tasked with providing direct funding for rural Alabama hospitals to help keep emergency departments open, modernize facilities, recruit and retain workforce, expand access, and integrate with the community. Discusses a recent trend toward facility closures in the state and other policy measures attempting to reverse the trend.
Source: Tuscaloosa Thread