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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Sep 18, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announcing changes to the TRICARE program benefits for calendar year 2027. Outlines annual changes, new and expanded benefits, demonstration programs, pharmacy out-of-pocket expenses for CY 2027, and more. This TRICARE Health Plan information is applicable to services beginning January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau seeking comments on Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) field tests related to self-response. The 2027 Field Test will be the first time that the ASEC supplement will be administered as a self-response mode, and will evaluate the comparability of computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) questions to internet self-response (ISR) questions and the impact of changing question wording and response categories. Comments are due by November 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from September 26, 2026, through September 26, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2026 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on proposed revisions to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Among other things, proposed updates for the 2027 NSDUH include revisions and additions to the Special Drugs module to prevent inconsistent reporting of last use of specific drugs with earlier modules; addition to the Mental Health Services Utilization module to capture past 12-month use of a Crisis Line service; and additions to the Emerging Issues module to measure past 12-month use of glucagon-like peptide-1 medications (GLP-1s), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications. Comments are due by November 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 16, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & 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 2027 AIC threshold amounts are $200 for ALJ hearings and $2,000 for judicial review. These adjustments will be effective on January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 16, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the second biannual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II public meeting of 2026 on November 2-3, 2026. The meeting will include discussions on the CMS preliminary coding, Medicare benefit category, and Medicare payment determinations for new revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code set. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the CMS website. Registration is required for in-person attendees by October 19, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 14, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Provider Experience of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) Program; 2) Use Agreement (DUA) Limited Data Set (LDS) Forms Research Identifiable Files (RIF) Forms; and 3) Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204. Comments are due by November 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 14, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing a change in the meeting of the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC). The HITAC meeting scheduled for September 24, 2026, will now be held on October 8, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 11, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing to remove the availability of the up to 60-day discretionary grace period upon cessation of employment for individuals in certain nonimmigrant classifications. Comments are due by November 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 11, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) proposing regulations regarding qualified opportunity zones and opportunity funds. Among other things, the proposed regulations would implement new statutory requirements for qualified opportunity funds to file information returns with the IRS and for qualified opportunity zone businesses to furnish statements to qualified opportunity funds that hold interests in them, would clarify the qualified opportunity fund self-certification rules and provide procedures for qualified opportunity funds to revoke inadvertent certifications or voluntarily decertify. Comments are due by October 16, 2026. The IRS will also hold a public hearing on the proposed regulations on November 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Requests to attend the hearing are due by November 3, 2026.
Source: Federal Register