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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Nov 21, 2025 - Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year 2026 and updating the payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by an ESRD facility to individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI). Among other things, this rule also updates requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and modifying and terminating requirements for the ESRD Treatment Choices Model. These regulations are effective January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 21, 2025 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) withdrawing the January 3, 2025, proposed rule titled "Exempting Whole Health Well-Being Services From Copayment." This withdrawal is applicable on November 21, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) for Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP); 2) Data Request and Attestation for PDP Sponsors; 3) Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges and State Partnership Exchanges; 4) Data Collection to Support Eligibility Determinations for Small Businesses in the Small Business Health Options Program; and 5) State-based Exchange Annual Reporting Tool (SMART). Comments are due by January 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Hospital Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey; 2) Medicare Enrollment Application—Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Suppliers; 3) Recognition of Pass-Through Payment for Additional (New) Categories of Devices under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Supporting Regulations; and 4) Registration, Attestation, Dispute Resolution and Correction, Assumptions Document and Data Retention Requirements for Open Payments. Comments are due December 22, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Agent/Broker Data Collection in Federally-facilitated Health Insurance Exchanges" which reinstates a previously approved information collection expanding the role of agents/brokers by permitting them to enroll qualified individuals or small employers/employees in qualified health plans through the Exchanges, and assist individuals in applying for Advance Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions. To participate as facilitators to enrollment, agents/brokers must register with the federally-facilitated exchanges, complete a training course covering eligibility and enrollment criteria for assisting in enrollment, and sign agreements that formalize their understanding and commitment to adhere to the rules of the program. Comments are due December 22, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2025 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on a proposed new project called SAMHSA Unified Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT)—Project (P). This tool will replace the Center for Mental Health Services' (CMHS) Infrastructure Development, Prevention, and Mental Health Promotion (IPP) Indicators and will serve as a single tool to collect grant-level aggregate data on target goals, actual performance, and client demographic characteristics from CMHS, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and Behavioral Health Coordinating Office (988) grantees. Comments are due by January 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2025 - The United States Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on an information collection titled "FNS Generic Clearance for the FNS Fast Track Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback." The Food and Nutrition Service in the USDA is seeking approval for an extension of generic clearance to collect qualitative feedback of services. The feedback is not intended for statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. Comments are due by December 22, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204." CMS will use the information to monitor ongoing compliance with section 1902(a)(30)(A) of the Social Security Act, and to make informed approval decisions on State plan amendments that propose to make Medicaid rate reductions or restructure payment rates. Beneficiaries, providers, and other affected stakeholders may use the information to raise access issues to state Medicaid agencies and work with agencies to address those issues. Comments are due by January 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a virtual public meeting on December 17, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss CMS preliminary coding, Medicare benefit category, and Medicare payment determinations, if applicable, for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set for non-drug and non-biological items and services. If all of the agenda items are not addressed on December 17, 2025, a subsequent virtual session will be held on December 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. All individuals who plan to speak must register by December 3, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making corrections to the March 6, 2024, notice to add urinalysis to the list of specialties and subspecialties. This correction is effective November 19, 2025.
Source: Federal Register