Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Jul 20, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on draft guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program regarding manufacturer effectuation of the maximum fair price in 2028 for the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Comments are due by September 18, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 17, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Application To Be a Qualified Entity to Receive Medicare Data for Performance Measurement/Reapplication/Annual Report Worksheet and 2) Good Cause Processes. Comments are due by August 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 17, 2026 - Notice from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners—45 CFR part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081—Revision." The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) aims to improve the quality of healthcare by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies, and other eligible entities providing healthcare services to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional behavior, and to restrict the ability of incompetent healthcare practitioners, providers, or suppliers to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging or incompetent performance. Comments are due by September 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 17, 2026 - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is accepting applications from qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as members of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC). NEMSAC serves as a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Applications are due by August 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are seeking comments on various topics related to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 including breath testing; laboratory processes and procedures; emergency preparedness, biosafety and security, and cybersecurity; and specialty testing areas. The use of remote direct observation for assessing laboratory personnel competency for the benefit of rural and remote facilities is of particular interest. Comments are due by September 14, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey for Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS); and 2) Hospice Survey and Deficiencies Report Form and Supporting Regulations. Comments are due August 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) CHIP State Plan Eligibility; 2) Model Application Template and Instructions for State Child Health Plan Under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, State Children's Health Insurance Program; 3) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Quality Measure Set (QMS) Reporting; 4) Medicaid State Plan Eligibility; 5) Health Home State Plan Amendment (SPA); 6) Child and Adult Core Set Measures; and 7) Health Home Core Sets. Comments are due July 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing: 1) changes to the Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B payment policies; 2) policies for the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; 3) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 4) updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B; 5) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 6) updates to the Quality Payment Program; 7) updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); 8) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; 9) codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 provisions; 10) updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. Comments are due on September 14, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 15, 2026 - Announces the new Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy, believed to be the first in the nation to formalize how tribal health data is managed between the government and tribal nations. Describes how the policy will be rolled out in phases as well as how the policy was created collaboratively between the state and tribal nations.
Source: KVOA
Jul 14, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) State Exchange Improper Payment Measurement (SEIPM); and 2) Consumer Experience Survey Data Collection. Comments are due August 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register