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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Oct 23, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services 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 November 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 22, 2026 - Executive Order from the Office of the President directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Women's Health Division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Among other things, the Women's Health Division, in coordination with the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, will increase the scientific review of women's health conditions in all phases of life that remain understudied or insufficiently understood; promote innovation and advanced research technologies to accelerate time to diagnosis and improve access to high-quality prevention, treatment, specialized healthcare services, personalized medicine, and coordinated care delivery for women's health conditions; and facilitate translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice and public health implementation across federal, state, and local jurisdictions. This Executive Order also establishes the White House Women's Health Task Force, which will ensure that the federal government pursues a comprehensive approach to women's health that recognizes evolving health needs throughout the lifespan and will support necessary policy and regulatory reforms to ensure timely and stage-specific prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for women.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 22, 2026 - Discusses new proposed New Jersey legislation that would establish micro-hospitals to support hospital access in rural communities. The legislation would allow hospitals to offer fewer services that are underutilized. Notes other states that have opened micro-hospitals.
Source: New Jersey Monitor
Oct 21, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on a new matching program between CMS and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that would identify beneficiaries enrolled in both Medicare and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare. The matching program will be used to identify and recover duplicate payments; improve payment accuracy; and identify potential fraud, waste, and abuse. Comments are due by November 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 21, 2026 - Describes challenges with emergency medical services (EMS) provision in rural Vermont, discussing patients using EMS for primary care and low reimbursement rates. Notes possible policy measures to address EMS challenges.
Source: VTDigger
Oct 21, 2026 - Notice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Data Security Requirements for Accessing Confidential Data (OMB Control Number: 0930-0396)—Extension" regarding the use of and processing of applications in the standard application process (SAP) Portal to request confidential data from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Comments are due November 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 20, 2026 - Notice of a proposed rule that would implement the following sections of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026: 1) section 6219, "Adjustments to Medicare Part D Cost-Sharing Reductions for Low-Income Individuals;" 2) section 6220, "Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists of (REAL) Health Providers Act;" and 3) section 6224, "Modernizing and Ensuring Pharmacy Benefit Manager Accountability." The implementation of Section 6219 would reduce the generic drug copayment from $1 to $0 for full-benefit dual eligible individuals at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, effective for plan years starting January 1, 2028. The implementation of Section 6220, the REAL Health Providers Act, would establish new provider directory accuracy and accountability requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations beginning in contract year 2028. In addition, CMS has several proposals to implement section 6224, which established requirements related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their affiliates specific to the Medicare Part D program. Comments are due by December 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 20, 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 November 19, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 16, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Annual State Report on CMS Value Based Purchasing Arrangements (VBP) Supplemental Rebate Agreements; and 2) Generic Clearance for Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation). Comments are due by December 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 16, 2026 - Discusses a new clinically integrated network for rural Oregon hospitals including various regulations and participating hospitals.
Source: Willamette Week