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Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Aug 3, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the prospective payment system (PPS) rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule includes classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups, finalizes the third and final year of the 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and updates the IRF Quality Reporting Program and changes to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding alternative data sources for the IRF PPS wage index and potential future IRF PPS payment reform. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 3, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule finalizes conforming regulation text changes to discharge from hospice care regulations and the face-to-face encounter regulations. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding community-based palliative care; the construction of a hospice-specific wage index; and the overlap between hospice and medical aid in dying laws. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 3, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announcing the availability of a revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (Pilot). The Pilot provides a rebate mechanism through which qualifying drug manufacturers may effectuate the 340B ceiling price for certain drugs sold to covered entities. Eligible manufacturers seeking to participate in the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program must submit plans to 340BPricing@hrsa.gov by August 24, 2026, for an effective date of January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 3, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2027. This rule also makes changes to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals; and requirements for certain quality programs, among other things. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) also adopts certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications on behalf of HHS. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 1, 2026 - Rural emergency management service crews in Virginia have received training for delivering babies on roadsides. There have been recent increases in roadside deliveries following closure of rural labor and delivery departments in some hospitals.
Source: WSLS
Jul 31, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2027 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare Inpatient Hospital Services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Among other things, this rule also refines the IPF PPS outlier policy, implements a standardized IPF patient assessment, and removes two measures used in the IPF Quality Reporting Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
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 - Describes a heart failure care program in rural West Virginia pharmacies. The program includes care coordination between local pharmacists and cardiovascular specialists to support consistent care and identify medication-related concerns early for rural patients.
Source: WVU Medicine
Jul 31, 2026 - Announces the revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program to use a claims-based rebate approach. Eligible manufacturers must submit rebate plans by August 24, 2026 for pricing periods effective January 1, 2027.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Jul 30, 2026 - Request for nominations for the Health Resources & Services Administration's Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). TAC advises HRSA staff on public health issues and collaborative approaches to addressing the needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives. Eligible nominees are elected tribal officials from Great Plains, Oklahoma, Nashville, and Phoenix. Nominations should be emailed to tribalaffairs@hrsa.gov by September 30, 2026.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration