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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Dec 23, 2025 - Notice of a request for information on what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can do to accelerate the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care. Feedback is requested on how the technology can be most effectively applied, to foster public trust, to reduce uncertainty that impedes innovation, and align federal incentives to deploy AI in a way that enhances productivity, reduces burden, lowers healthcare costs, and improves health outcomes. Comments will be used to inform regulations, reimbursement, and research and development. Comments are due by February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of the Treasury, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (DOL), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on a proposed rule amending regulations under the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code regarding price transparency reporting requirements for non-grandfathered group health plans and health insurance issuers offering non-grandfathered group and individual health insurance coverage. These proposed rules would improve the standardization, accuracy, and accessibility of public pricing disclosures in line with the goals of the Executive Order 14221. Comments are due by February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposing deregulatory actions identified in HHS regulations regarding health information technology standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria and certification programs for health information technology, as well as information blocking. ASTP/ONC intends for the revisions and removal of select regulations to streamline and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers, health information technology (IT) developers, and the health IT community overall. Comments are due within 30 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for December 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Pre-publication notice from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) withdrawing non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule titled "Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability." The withdrawal of the non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule is effective upon the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for December 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 22, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medical Necessity and Contract Amendments Under Mental Health Parity." CMS uses the information collected and reported in an oversight role of State Medicaid managed care programs. Comments are due by January 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 19, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prohibiting the use of Medicaid funds for procedures identified as gender-affirming care for children under 18. Additionally the rule prohibits the use of federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for procedures identified as gender-affirming care for children under 19. Comments are due February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 19, 2025 - A notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the requirements of participation for Medicare and Medicaid certified hospitals. The proposed rule prohibits Medicare-participating hospitals from performing certain procedures associated with gender dysphoria on children. Comments are due February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 19, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revising 45 CFR 84.4(g) in the regulation implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) as it applies to recipients of HHS funding to exclude gender dysphoria from the definition of "disability" and "individual with a disability." This proposed rule intends to clarify the May 9, 2024, final rule titled, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance." HHS seeks comments on the impact of the proposed rule, the impact of the May 9, 2024 rule, and regulatory alternatives as described in Section IV of this notice. Comments are due January 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the August 5, 2025, final rule titled " Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program."
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register