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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Sep 25, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) implementing the Multifamily Housing (MFH) Preservation Pilot and announcing the Multifamily Housing Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost Percentage Change. RHS will use the MFH Preservation Pilot to determine if it can improve program delivery efficiency for transactions that facilitate preservation of low-income housing units in rural America while maintaining appropriate risk management of the portfolio. The loan-to-cost change updates the maximum loan-to-cost percentage for Section 538 loans guaranteed under Option 3 (Continuous Guarantee) from 70% to 80%, and is separate from the Pilot. The Multifamily Housing (MFH) Preservation Pilot will operate between October 9, 2026, and September 25, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking public input regarding the establishment of standards for reasonable and relevant pharmacy contract terms and conditions under the Medicare prescription drug benefit as outlined by Section 6223(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75). Specifically, CMS seeks comments on pharmacy reimbursement and dispensing fees, current contract practices, trends in contract terms and conditions, and pharmacy quality and performance measures, among other things. Comments are due by November 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 23, 2026 - Notice of interim final rule with comment period from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) codifying its authority to impose a temporary moratorium pausing the registration of agents and brokers that do not have a current Plan Year registration with the Federally-facilitated exchanges. Specifically, this notice announces that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is imposing a temporary moratorium to pause the registration of agents and brokers that do not have Plan Year 2026 Exchange agreements with the Federally-facilitated exchanges and are seeking to enter into agreements with CMS to assist consumers with enrollment through the Federally-facilitated exchanges for Plan Year 2027. This moratorium does not affect registrations on the state-based exchanges. The moratorium is effective September 22, 2026, until February 1, 2027, unless it is modified by CMS in a subsequent Federal Register notice. This interim final rule is effective September 22, 2026. Comments are due by November 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 18, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announcing changes to the TRICARE program benefits for calendar year 2027. Outlines annual changes, new and expanded benefits, demonstration programs, pharmacy out-of-pocket expenses for CY 2027, and more. This TRICARE Health Plan information is applicable to services beginning January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from September 26, 2026, through September 26, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 14, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Provider Experience of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) Program; 2) Use Agreement (DUA) Limited Data Set (LDS) Forms Research Identifiable Files (RIF) Forms; and 3) Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204. Comments are due by November 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 11, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing to remove the availability of the up to 60-day discretionary grace period upon cessation of employment for individuals in certain nonimmigrant classifications. Comments are due by November 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 11, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) proposing regulations regarding qualified opportunity zones and opportunity funds. Among other things, the proposed regulations would implement new statutory requirements for qualified opportunity funds to file information returns with the IRS and for qualified opportunity zone businesses to furnish statements to qualified opportunity funds that hold interests in them, would clarify the qualified opportunity fund self-certification rules and provide procedures for qualified opportunity funds to revoke inadvertent certifications or voluntarily decertify. Comments are due by October 16, 2026. The IRS will also hold a public hearing on the proposed regulations on November 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Requests to attend the hearing are due by November 3, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 10, 2026 - The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would add two new regulations regarding the decennial census. The proposed additions would outline the residence criteria used for identifying each person's "usual residence" and establish standards and restrictions for the inclusion of certain demographic questions on the decennial census short-form questionnaire and any other questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population. Comments are due by October 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 10, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) making corrections to the August 25, 2026, proposed rule titled "Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions."
Source: Federal Register