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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Jul 2, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Submissions of Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) Waiver Submission and Data Collection; 2) Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Regulations; and 3) Granting and Withdrawal of Deeming Authority to Private Nonprofit Accreditation Organizations and CLIA Exemption Under State Laboratory Programs. Comments are due by August 3, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminating the March 27, 2020, declaration authorizing the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 29, 2026, the HHS Secretary determined that the circumstances no longer exist justifying this authorization of emergency use of drugs and biological products. The termination of the declaration is effective June 29, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminating three declarations that authorized the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2; personal respiratory protective devices during the COVID-19 outbreak; and medical devices, including alternative products used as medical devices. On June 29, 2026, the HHS Secretary determined that the circumstances no longer exist justifying the emergency use of these medical devices. These declarations are terminated effective December 26, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 29, 2026 - Describes new bipartisan legislation passed out of committee to the full U.S. House of Representatives. The Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act offers aims to streamline and reduce costs for Accountable Care Organization (ACO) reporting by allowing facilities to transition to digital quality measures.
Source: U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means
Jun 29, 2026 - Describes proposed legislation that makes changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program and requests feedback on the proposal. Comments are due by August 28, 2026.
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Jun 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making corrections to the June 3, 2026, interim final rule titled "Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals."
Source: Federal Register
Jun 29, 2026 - Provides an interim list of programs that are and are not designated as professional degree programs following the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's partial stay of the May 1, 2026 Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Final Rule published in the Federal Register. Offers guidance to educational institutions for disbursing funds for affected programs.
Source: Federal Student Aid, Office of the U.S. Department of Education
Jun 26, 2026 - 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 2027 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 includes requests for information (RFI) to inform future policies related to increasing home dialysis uptake, improving palliative dialysis, and supporting alternative dialysis schedules. Comments are due by August 24, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 24, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) that would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to codify the reduction of the amount of the Federal government's share of annual SNAP state administrative costs from 50 percent to 25 percent beginning in fiscal year 2027. Comments are due by August 24, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 24, 2026 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation to provide funding covering emergency room operating expenses for rural hospitals. Highlights how hospital closures have affected rural Missouri communities.
Source: Office of Senator Josh Hawley