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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowing an additional 30 days for comment on the March 9, 2026, notice regarding a proposed information collection titled "Developmental/Methodological Projects to Improve the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and Related Programs." NHANES produces descriptive statistics, which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. The purpose of these projects is to evaluate proposed survey designs, content, methods, and alternative approaches to survey activities for NHANES or National Center for Health Statistics-wide projects. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with change of an information collection titled "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback." Information collected will be used to ensure that CMS customers and stakeholders have effective, efficient, and satisfying experiences with CMS's programs. Comments are due by August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Physician Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instruction." The physician certification and recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary's need for services has been established and then reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals and is a condition for Medicare Part A payment for post-hospital skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Comments are due by July 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation (COLA) as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for the specialty of histocompatibility. This approval is applicable from July 10, 2026, to June 10, 2031.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice of a request for information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding substance research, policy, and strategies to improve the prevention, treatment, recovery from mental illness and substance use. HHS seeks information from public, patients, people with lived experience of addiction and recovery, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, policymakers and others on improvements to the programs and policies of the United States government and HHS that focus on substance use, including opioid and polysubstance use, prevention, treatment, and recovery as well as mental health treatment prevention, and recovery in all age groups. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to HHS. Comments are due by July 5, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcing suspensions, waivers, and flexibilities from HUD requirements for its Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG), Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG), and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) grantees located in areas covered by Presidentially Declared Disasters (PDDs) during calendar year 2026 or grantees carrying out authorized eligible activities to assist impacted families located in areas covered by certain PDDs. These waivers and flexibilities are effective as of January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 9, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) amending the Block Grants regulations, the Individual Development Account Reserve Funds Established Pursuant to Grants for Assets for Independence regulations, and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. This rule is effective August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 9, 2026 - A new bill has been proposed aiming to expand veterinary care in rural and tribal communities. Describes the increase in animal-related injury and zoonotic diseases for communities with limited access to veterinary care.
Source: Brownfield Ag News
Jun 8, 2026 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Committee members provide comments and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on physician payment models. Nominations are due July 13, 2026.
Jun 8, 2026 - The Federal Communications Commission announces that unused Rural Health Care (RHC) Program funds may be carried forward for funding year 2026. Eligible RHC Program funding requests may be fully funded without prioritization.
Source: Federal Communications Commission