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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Dec 11, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2, which will begin on July 1, 2026. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 11, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Hospital Notices: IM/DND; 2) Marketplace Operations; and 3) Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-grandfathered Group Health Plans and Issuers and Individual Market Issuers. Comments are due by January 12, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 11, 2025 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) making corrections to the September 30, 2024, final rule. This rule is effective December 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 10, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on updates to the Uniform Data System (UDS) for performance year 2026. Updates include changes to patient-level reporting and tables on selected diagnoses and services rendered, quality of care measures, health outcomes, patient service revenue, and more. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Medicare Health Outcomes Survey Field Test; and 2) Hospital Notice: Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON). Comments are due by January 7, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, dba QUAD A, for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Rural Health Clinics that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by January 7, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the DNV Healthcare, Inc., for initial recognition as a national accrediting organization for Ambulatory Surgical Centers that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from December 8, 2025, through December 10, 2029.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 5, 2025 - Highlights $906 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for rural community development and housing projects in Georgia. Projects include funding for hospital renovations and infrastructure improvements, among other investments.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dec 3, 2025 - Notice of interim final rule with comment from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) repealing provisions of the May 10, 2024, final rule titled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting." This interim final rule removes the minimum staffing requirements outlined in the May 10, 2024, final rule and reinstates nurse staffing requirements set forth in the October 4, 2016, final rule. These regulations are effective on February 2, 2026. Comments are due by February 2, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 2, 2025 - Announces that components of a 2024 regulation establishing federal requirements for nursing home staffing has been repealed. Discusses the burden that had been placed on rural and tribal facilities as a result of the rule.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services