Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Jul 17, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to
the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC)
payment system for calendar year 2026, including changes to
the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates
for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid
under the ASC payment systems. Among other updates, this
rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for
the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Rural
Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program, Ambulatory
Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program, Overall Hospital
Quality Star Rating, and hospitals to make public their
standard charge information and enforcement of hospital
price transparency. Comments are due September 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment Meeting-August 25, 2025
Federal Register
Jul 17, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will
hold a virtual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital
Outpatient Payment on August 25, 2025. The purpose of the
Panel is to advise the Secretary on the clinical integrity
of the Ambulatory Payment Classification groups and their
associated weights, which are major elements of the
Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and
the Ambulatory Surgical Center payment system, and
supervision of hospital outpatient therapeutic services.
The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will
be posted on the
Panel's website. Presentations and comment letters are
due by August 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2025 - Notice of a proposed 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. Comments are due on September 12, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
FCC: Facilitating Implementation of Next Generation 911 Services (NG911); Improving 911 Reliability
Federal Register
Jul 16, 2025 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is allowing an
additional 2 weeks for comment on the
June 4, 2025, proposed rule titled "Facilitating
Implementation of Next Generation 911 Services (NG911);
Improving 911 Reliability." FCC is seeking comments on the
proposed updates to the definition of "covered 911 service
provider" in the FCC's existing 911 reliability rules and
reliability standards. Comments are now due by August 4,
2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Jul 14, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey; and 2) Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services. Comments are due by September 12, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register
Jul 14, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) The PACE Organization (PO) Monitoring and Audit Process; and 2) Creditable Coverage Disclosure to CMS On-Line Form and Instructions. Comments are due by August 13, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 11, 2025 - Publication notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting a date in the July 9, 2025, notice.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Federal Register
Jul 11, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modifying an existing system of records titled "Home Health Agency (HHA) Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS)." Among other things, home health agencies required to comply with Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) are now mandated to collect OASIS on patients with any payer source, instead of just patients with Medicare/Medicaid pay sources. This notice is effective July 11, 2025, subject to a 30-day period in which to comment on the new and revised routine uses. Comments are due by August 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2025 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs from September 3-5, 2025. The Committee will provide advice and guidance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Native American Veterans. The agenda will include, among other things, updates from the VA Office of Tribal Government Relations, Office of Hawaiian Veteran Affairs, VA Readjustment Counseling Services—Vet Center Program, and VHA Suicide Prevention/Behavioral Health.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 9, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting a date in the July 2, 2025, proposed rule.
Source: Federal Register