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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Medicare

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
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Model Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Individual Enrollment Request Form; and 2) Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage for Applicable Integrated Plans in States that Require Integrated Materials. Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 11, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2, which will begin on July 1, 2026. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Medicare Health Outcomes Survey Field Test; and 2) Hospital Notice: Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON). Comments are due by January 7, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, dba QUAD A, for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Rural Health Clinics that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by January 7, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 8, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the DNV Healthcare, Inc., for initial recognition as a national accrediting organization for Ambulatory Surgical Centers that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from December 8, 2025, through December 10, 2029.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 4, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announcing the annual adjustment in the amount in controversy (AIC) threshold amounts for Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings and judicial review under the Medicare appeals process. The calendar year 2026 AIC threshold amounts are $200 for ALJ hearings and $1,960 for judicial review. These adjustments will be effective on January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 3, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announcing the application fee for providers initially enrolling in the Medicare or Medicaid programs, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); revalidating their Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP enrollment; or adding a new Medicare practice location. The new fee is $750 and is required for applications submitted January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 2, 2025 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2026. This rule also finalizes changes to the face-to-face encounter policy, Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP), and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements; updates the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP); and makes a technical change to the home health conditions of participation. Among other things, this rule also finalizes permanent and temporary behavior adjustments and recalibrates the case-mix weights and update the functional impairment levels; comorbidity subgroups; and low-utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) thresholds for CY 2026. These regulations are effective January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 1, 2025 - Quarterly listing of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and Federal Register notices published from July through September 2025, including contact information for general questions or additional information about specific sections.
Source: Federal Register