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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Sep 24, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Supplemental Data Collection; 2) Medicare Registration Application; and 3) Medicare Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol. Comments are due by October 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2025 - Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing to amend its regulations regarding the process by which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for unique beneficiaries for filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions. DHS proposes implementing a weighted selection process that would generally favor the allocation of H-1B visas to higher skilled and higher paid aliens, while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H-1B workers at all wage levels. Comments on the NPRM are due by October 24, 2025. Comments on revisions of associated information collections are due by November 24, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 23, 2025 - Describes legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend COVID-era flexibilities for prescribing medication through telemedicine for physicians in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Discusses access issues for rural veterans as well as anxiety around seeing a doctor in a clinic.
Source: Camden News
Sep 19, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) amending the Medicare Advantage (Part C) regulations to establish a requirement for Medicare Advantage (MA) provider directory data to be submitted to CMS for publication online. This rule finalizes proposals that require MA provider directory data to be updated within 30 days of the date an MA organization becomes aware of changes to that data and that MA organizations must annually attest that the MA provider directory information is accurate. These regulations are effective November 17, 2025, and are applicable January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2025 - Highlights proposed legislation that aims to improve access to healthcare for veterans by allowing rural Veterans Administration (VA) clinics to contract with outside healthcare providers. The bill is in response to staffing issues in VA facilities.
Source: KOLD