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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

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
Jul 2, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2027. This rule also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements. Among other things, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2027, including changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment systems. Among other things, this rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program; requests information regarding potential approaches to improve comparability and standardization of the HPT information reported in machine-readable files and consumer-friendly displays, particularly for complex contracting methodologies; and announces notices of closure of teaching hospitals and opportunities to apply for available slots. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service rescinding the July 8, 2025, notice announcing that RHS was accepting applications for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) for fiscal year 2025. USDA Rural Development is currently updating the program's notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to ensure it reflects existing guidance in addition to new policy and program priorities that have emerged since the original publication. Applications submitted under this NOFO will not advance further in the review process. Applicants will be required to submit a new application once a future RCDI NOFO is issued.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)
Jul 1, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcing the establishment of the Alliance of National Councils for Homeland Operational Resilience—Critical Infrastructure (ANCHOR-CI). ANCHOR-CI is an advisory body comprised of sector, cross-sector, regional, and industry councils that provide group advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director to ensure a coordinated national effort to foster a secure and resilient critical infrastructure and cyberspace, exchange best practices pertaining to technical assistance, and cooperatively maintain mechanisms for collaboration with Sector Risk Management Agencies.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 1, 2026 - Announcement from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRS) that State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) will have additional review time for Health Professional Shortage Areas identified through the 2025 National Shortage Designation Update as "proposed for withdrawal." PCOs may use the additional time to update data and submit revisions where appropriate before HRSA takes final action.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Jun 30, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing the reorganization of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. The reorganization is effective June 28, 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