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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Jul 31, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2027. This rule also updates the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 31, 2026 - Announces new bipartisan legislation that would increase access to the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. The bill would both add eligibility flexibility for current hospitals at risk of closure and expand access for some previously closed rural hospitals. The bill would also allow REHs to offer inpatient psychiatric care, offer limited inpatient rehabilitation services, and enter into swing bed agreements. Also notes other legislation to support rural healthcare.
Source: Office of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Jul 30, 2026 - The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection regarding revisions to multiple forms used for monitoring and evaluating the Health Center Program. Comments are due by September 28, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 28, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Applicant Organizational National Provider Identifiers and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Certification Numbers Form, OMB No. 0906-xxxx New." HRSA proposes to collect organizational National Provider Identifiers (Type 2 NPIs) and CMS Certification Numbers (CCNs) from organizations that apply for HRSA award funding through Grants.gov. Information collected will enable HRSA to link its program and award data to publicly available external datasets that use NPIs and CCNs and will be used solely for research, evaluation, and analysis of program reach, effectiveness, and accountability. Comments are due by September 28, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 27, 2026 - Announces new proposed bipartisan legislation to protect rural hospitals from cyberattacks. The bill includes cybersecurity workforce development strategies, training for rural hospital staffs, and regular updates to Congress on implementation.
Source: Office of Representative Glenn Thompson
Jul 24, 2026 - Interview with Cory Cronin, associate professor at Ohio University's Department of Social and Public Health. He discusses the issues involved in nonprofit rural hospitals spending their community benefit budgets, a requirement to invest in improving the health of the local community overall.
Source: WOUB
Jul 23, 2026 - Discusses a new healthcare clinic that opened in a rural Mississippi Delta community. Highlights the history of healthcare access in the area and the challenges the community faced when there was no clinic, particularly related to transportation to healthcare facilities in other communities. Discusses plans to expand services further in the future.
Source: Mississippi Free Press
Jul 21, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Transformed—Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) and 2) the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey Mode Experiment. Comments are due by September 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 20, 2026 - Announces a new free program for rural hospital administrators and other leaders in Texas to provide professional development and continuing education. The program was created through state legislation and is expected to launch in 2027.
Source: Crossroads Today
Jul 17, 2026 - Notice from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners—45 CFR part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081—Revision." The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) aims to improve the quality of healthcare by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies, and other eligible entities providing healthcare services to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional behavior, and to restrict the ability of incompetent healthcare practitioners, providers, or suppliers to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging or incompetent performance. Comments are due by September 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register