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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Jul 31, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) amending the following to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations: 1) Grants to States for Public Assistance Programs, 2) General Administration—State Plans and Grant Appeals, 3) General Administration—Public Assistance Programs, 4) Training and Use of Subprofessionals and Volunteers, 5) Coverage and Conditions of Eligibility in Financial Assistance Programs, 6) Financial Assistance to Individuals, 7) Administration of Financial Assistance Programs, 8) Fiscal Administration of Financial Assistance Programs, 9) General Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Provisions, 10) Ensuring That Recipients Work, 11) the Accountability Provisions—General, 12) Expenditures of State and Federal TANF Funds, 13) Other Accountability Provisions, 14) Data Collection and Reporting Requirements, 15) High Performance Bonus Awards, 16) the Implementation of Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act Bonus to Reward Decrease in Illegitimacy Ratio, 17) Methodology for Determining Whether an Increase in a State or Territory's Child Poverty Rate Is the Result of the TANF Program, 18) Tribal TANF Provisions, and 19) The Native Employment Works (NEW) Program. This rule is effective September 29, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 31, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2027 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare Inpatient Hospital Services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Among other things, this rule also refines the IPF PPS outlier policy, implements a standardized IPF patient assessment, and removes two measures used in the IPF Quality Reporting Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 31, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2027. This rule also updates the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 31, 2026 - Announces the revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program to use a claims-based rebate approach. Eligible manufacturers must submit rebate plans by August 24, 2026 for pricing periods effective January 1, 2027.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Jul 31, 2026 - Pre-publication notice announcing that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold an open meeting on August 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Agenda items include a discussion of a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order that would seek comment on several improvements to the Rural Health Care Program, among other things. The meeting can be viewed on the FCC website.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 30, 2026 - Announces a virtual public meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Classifications and Public Health Data Standards, ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance (C&M) Committee to be held on September 15-16, 2026. The agenda includes a discussion of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS topics, a list of which is provided in the notice. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 30, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing updates to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes on the Master List, as well as HCPCS codes on the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List and the Required Prior Authorization List. These updates, excluding prior authorization requirements for upper limb orthoses, are effective October 28, 2026. Prior authorization requirements for upper limb orthoses will be implemented in three phases, and will be effective in all states and territories on April 26, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 30, 2026 - Request for nominations for the Health Resources & Services Administration's Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). TAC advises HRSA staff on public health issues and collaborative approaches to addressing the needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives. Eligible nominees are elected tribal officials from Great Plains, Oklahoma, Nashville, and Phoenix. Nominations should be emailed to tribalaffairs@hrsa.gov by September 30, 2026.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Jul 30, 2026 - The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection regarding revisions to multiple forms used for monitoring and evaluating the Health Center Program. Comments are due by September 28, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 30, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule finalizes conforming regulation text changes to discharge from hospice care regulations and the face-to-face encounter regulations. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding community-based palliative care; the construction of a hospice-specific wage index; and the overlap between hospice and medical aid in dying laws. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register