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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Dec 17, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Requirement for Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) for a Covered Part D Drug Under a Prescription Drug Plan or an MA-PD Plan." The EPCS exception requires a waiver if a prescriber is unable to conduct EPCS due to circumstances outside the prescribers control. Comments are due January 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the August 5, 2025, final rule titled " Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program."
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Request from the Public Health Accreditation Board for feedback on Standards & Measures Version 2026, the accreditation standards for public health departments. Feedback requested includes, but is not limited to, clarity of the requirements, feasibility of providing documentation, and the importance of the standards to public health. Comments are due December 31, 2025.
Source: Public Health Accreditation Board
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Model Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Individual Enrollment Request Form; and 2) Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage for Applicable Integrated Plans in States that Require Integrated Materials. Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 13, 2025 - Highlights a rural community event from a South Carolina health care organization offering winter clothing, free flu shots, and health resources to local residents. Notes that access to weather appropriate clothing and preventive care can be more limited in rural areas.
Source: WLTX
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 10, 2025 - Describes a mental health awareness and crisis response training being used to fill gaps in mental healthcare access for rural communities. Notes health disparities for rural residents due to shortages of mental health workforce and resources.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Dec 10, 2025 - Announces the expansion of a rural pediatric health networking and collaboration initiative in Georgia aiming to support access to pediatric healthcare. The program includes both a physician training and consultation component as well as specialty telehealth component to allow rural children to receive healthcare in their communities. Discusses scholarship opportunities to increase the pediatric health workforce and plans to continue expanding this program.
Source: The Den
Dec 9, 2025 - Describes an innovation that could offer small rural wastewater facilities an affordable way to conduct wastewater sampling for public health purposes. Notes the traditional testing equipment is expensive and often out of reach for rural facilities.
Source: Louisiana Illuminator
Dec 8, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Medicaid Program Face-to-Face Requirements for Home Health Services and Supporting Regulations." Physicians must document that there was a face-to-face encounter with the Medicaid beneficiary prior to the physician certifying that home health services are required. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act permits nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and physician assistants (PAs) to certify the need for home health services and to order services in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Comments are due by February 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register