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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Feb 2, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) closing a loophole in a regulatory statistical test applied to State proposals for Medicaid tax waivers. The loophole allows some healthcare-related taxes, especially taxes on managed care organizations, to be imposed at higher tax rates on Medicaid taxable units than non-Medicaid taxable units. This rule adds additional safeguards to ensure that tax waivers that exploit the loophole are not approved. This final rule also summarizes comments CMS received in response to the proposed rule, including the impact of changes to healthcare-related tax revenues on rural providers. These regulations are effective April 3, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) providing application requirements for funding reserved under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority program. USDA is implementing SECD in fiscal year 2026 by reserving funds from the covered program. This notice describes the requirements by which RD will consider projects eligible for covered programs' reserved funds and information needed to apply.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 30, 2026 - Announces the fiscal year 2027 registration period for H-1B visas, running March 4th through March 19th. Describes new regulations for the registration process.
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Jan 29, 2026 - Notice from the Department of Defense (DOD) Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announcing adjustments to the certified labor doulas (CLDs) performing childbirth support services under the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD). This notice announces changes to the reimbursement methodology for childbirth support services intended to stabilize reimbursement. DHA is modifying reimbursement for childbirth support services so that the rate approved for March 1, 2025, will be considered a "baseline." The DHA Director will approve a new baseline if it is found that TRICARE reimbursement is not keeping pace with Medicaid reimbursement. The new reimbursement methodology will be effective for rates beginning March 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 29, 2026 - Notice from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on whether any additions or modifications are needed to the safe harbor regulations under the Federal anti-kickback statute or the exceptions to the civil monetary penalty provision prohibiting inducements to beneficiaries for emerging direct-to-consumer sales programs established by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Comments are due by March 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 29, 2026 - Discusses food deserts in rural and other parts of Mississippi, associated health disparities, and proposed legislation to support communities in food deserts. Notes that rural residents are on average 30 miles away from a grocery store.
Source: Twin States News
Jan 28, 2026 - Describes proposed bipartisan legislation to support food banks and others in delivering food boxes to low-income rural older adults. Notes food access challenges for rural older adults in Arizona and Ohio.
Source: Office of Senator Mark Kelly
Jan 27, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinding the September 29, 2023, titled "Guidance to Nation's Retail Pharmacies: Obligations under Federal Civil Rights Laws to Ensure Nondiscriminatory Access to Health Care at Pharmacies."
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinding the September 17, 2021, HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notice titled "Guidance on Nondiscrimination Protections under the Church Amendments."
Source: Federal Register
Jan 23, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Emergency Ambulance Transports and Beneficiary Signature." The information collected is used to ensure that emergency and nonemergency ambulance transport services were in fact rendered and were rendered as billed. Comments are due by March 24, 2026.
Source: Federal Register