Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Aug 28, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting a date in the July 9, 2025, notice.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 21, 2025 - Notice of interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updating compliance and other dates in the December 13, 2024, final rule to conform with the delay of effective date changes finalized in the February 11, 2025, final rule. This rule is effective August 20, 2025. Compliance with the December 2024 rule is required by April 14, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Aug 18, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Registration, Attestation, Dispute Resolution and Correction, Assumptions Document and Data Retention Requirements for Open Payments and 2) Medicare Enrollment Application—Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Suppliers. Comments are due by October 17, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
RBS, RHS, RUS: Removal of Obsolete Regulation
Federal Register
Aug 18, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD), which includes the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and Rural Housing Service (RHS), removing the provisions in 7 CFR part 1930, which is already blank. USDA Rural Development is clarifying that these regulations no longer exist. This final rule is effective August 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 14, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the July 16, 2025, proposed rule.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 14, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) correcting the August 7, 2025, notice extending the standard performance period for health center grantees from 3 to 4 years. Includes a list of 192 health center awardees that will receive a one-year extension with funds for a total 4-year performance period.
Source: Federal Register
HRSA: Health Center Program Performance Period Extensions
Federal Register
Aug 7, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of an extension of the standard performance period for health center grantees from 3 to 4 years. The extended performance period will provide current health centers additional time to serve their service area before they apply for a new award. Includes a list of 194 health center awardees that will receive a one-year extension with funds for a total 4-year performance period. This update will not change the statutory requirement that health centers that fail to comply with Health Center Program requirements will receive a 1-year performance period if a new project period is awarded.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Request for Termination of Medicare Premium Part A, Part B, or Part B Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage (Part B-ID) and Supporting Statute and Regulations; and 2) Appointment of Representative. Comments are due by September 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - 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 2026. Includes proposals related to admission to hospice regulations and the hospice face-to-face attestation requirements under the certification of terminal illness regulations. This final rule also includes a technical correction to the regulatory text and provides updates to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
These regulations are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System-Rate Update
Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2026 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. Includes a revision to the payment adjustment factors for teaching status and for IPFs in rural areas. These changes will be effective for IPF discharges occurring during the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This final rule also includes changes to measures used in the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program and changes to update and codify the Extraordinary Circumstances Exception policy. These changes are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register