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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Sep 30, 2026 - Offers an interview with an Appalachian pharmacy educator discussing access to pharmacies for rural communities. Discusses policy, rural culture, barriers in healthcare access, trust, and rural innovation.
Source: Drug Topics
Sep 30, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) announcing revisions to the current fee structure for the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) initial and annual guarantee fees. The revised fees are effective September 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) Request for Designation as an OPO, Health Insurance Benefits Agreement, and Supporting Regulations; and 2) Home Health Agency Cost Report. Comments are due by November 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the August 4, 2026, final rule. These corrections are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and the Georgia Department of Human Services, Department of Family and Children Services to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline. Lifeline provides discounted broadband and voice services to low-income consumers. Comments are due by October 29, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and the Connecticut Department of Social Services to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline. Lifeline provides discounted broadband and voice services to low-income consumers. Comments are due by October 29, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 28, 2026 - Notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) correcting the September 11, 2026, proposed rule regarding qualified opportunity zones and opportunity funds. Comments on the proposed rule are due by October 26, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2026 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation establishing a pilot program that would allow for reimbursement of dental care provided to rural veterans. The program aims to increase access to care while managing cost and capacity by using existing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs infrastructure.
Source: Office of Representative Jack Bergman
Sep 25, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Do Not Pay Working System. The purpose of the matching program is to provide CMS with information to identify providers and suppliers who are ineligible for Medicare enrollment; suspend or revoke the Medicare billing privileges of the identified disqualified providers and suppliers; enable the recoupment of past payments made to those providers and suppliers; detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and avoid making future improper payments to disqualified providers and suppliers; and enhance patient safety for beneficiaries in CMS programs. Comments are due by October 26, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) implementing the Multifamily Housing (MFH) Preservation Pilot and announcing the Multifamily Housing Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost Percentage Change. RHS will use the MFH Preservation Pilot to determine if it can improve program delivery efficiency for transactions that facilitate preservation of low-income housing units in rural America while maintaining appropriate risk management of the portfolio. The loan-to-cost change updates the maximum loan-to-cost percentage for Section 538 loans guaranteed under Option 3 (Continuous Guarantee) from 70% to 80%, and is separate from the Pilot. The Multifamily Housing (MFH) Preservation Pilot will operate between October 9, 2026, and September 25, 2028.
Source: Federal Register