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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Jul 14, 2025 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) setting forth the interpretation of "Federal public benefit" as used in in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Pub. L. 104–193, 8 U.S.C. § 1611. This notice revises the interpretation of the term set forth in the August 4, 1998, notice ("the 1998 HHS PRWORA Notice"). This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the HHS programs that provide "Federal public benefits" within the scope of PRWORA, including HHS programs that were not listed in the 1998 HHS PRWORA Notice. Comments are due by August 13, 2025.
Source: 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 - Pre-publication notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting a date in the July 9, 2025, notice.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing that it will no longer utilize the race- and sex-based "socially disadvantaged" designation to provide increased benefits based on race and sex. USDA has transitioned to race- and sex-neutral frameworks to ensure compliance with constitutional principles and the equal protection of all farmers and ranchers under the law. Impacted programs include, but are not limited to, loans and grants, guaranteed loans, pandemic assistance programs, and general administrative regulations. This rule is effective July 10, 2025.
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
Jul 3, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Supplemental Data Collection; and 2) Medicare Registration Application. Comments are due by September 2, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 3, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement." By signing the agreement to participate in Medicare, the physician, supplier, or their authorized official agrees to accept the Medicare-determined payment for Medicare covered services as payment in full and to charge the Medicare Part B beneficiary no more than the applicable deductible or coinsurance for the covered services. Comments are due by August 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2026. This rule also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements; updates to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP); technical changes to the home health conditions of participation; permanent and temporary behavior adjustments; and the recalibration of the case-mix weights and update the functional impairment levels, among other things. Comments are due by September 2, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year 2026 and proposing updates to the payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by an ESRD facility to individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI). Among other things, this rule also proposes updated requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and modifying and terminating requirements for the ESRD Treatment Choices Model. Comments are due by August 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 30, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with change of an information collection titled "Conditions of Participation for Community Mental Health Centers and Supporting Regulations." Among other things, the Information collected will be used by federal and state agency surveyors for determining whether a CMHC qualifies for approval or re-approval under Medicare. Comments are due by August 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register