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Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Jul 17, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Application To Be a Qualified Entity to Receive Medicare Data for Performance Measurement/Reapplication/Annual Report Worksheet and 2) Good Cause Processes. Comments are due by August 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 17, 2026 - Pre-publication notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on draft guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program regarding manufacturer effectuation of the maximum fair price in 2028 for the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for July 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - 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 drugs and biological products paid under Part B; 5) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 6) updates to the Quality Payment Program; 7) updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); 8) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; 9) codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 provisions; 10) updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. Comments are due on September 14, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 14, 2026 - Discusses an increase in cases of alpha-gal syndrome in Missouri, particularly among rural residents and farmers. Notes proposed legislation that aims to improve tracking of positive cases in the state.
Source: Farm Progress: Missouri Ruralist
Jul 10, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of The Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for home health agencies that wish to participate in Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is effective March 31, 2026, through June March 31, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the interoperability and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks. This Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes requiring NG911 service providers to conduct multi-party interstate interoperability testing of 911 traffic and seeks comments on how 911 authorities can integrate advanced technology into NG911 networks to improve accessibility. Comments are due by August 10, 2026, and reply comments are due by September 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the reliability and interoperability of emerging Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks. Among other things, this rule updates the definition of "covered 911 service provider" in the FCC's existing 911 reliability rules to ensure that the rules apply to service providers that control or operate critical pathways and components in NG911 networks, as well as updating reliability standards for providers of NG911 functions to ensure the reliable delivery of 911 traffic to NG911 delivery points. This rule is effective August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs revising its medical regulations to add a new method of notification for emergency treatment furnished by community providers to be authorized under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). Among other things, this rule amends the requirement that a notice of emergency treatment authorized under the VCCP be provided to the appropriate VA official at the nearest VA facility within 72 hours of treatment by adding that notice can also be provided through the centralized notification process. This rule is effective August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 7, 2026 - 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 2027, 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 things, this rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program; requests information regarding potential approaches to improve comparability and standardization of the HPT information reported in machine-readable files and consumer-friendly displays, particularly for complex contracting methodologies; and announces notices of closure of teaching hospitals and opportunities to apply for available slots. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 6, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2027. This rule also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements. Among other things, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register