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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Dec 17, 2025 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Shortage Designation Management System OMB No. 0906-0029-Extension." The Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS) is used to accept applications for determining Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Area/Medically Underserved Population (MUA/P) designations. Comments are due January 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection regarding forms used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs. The NHSC and Nurse Corps Interest Capture Form is an optional form that a health profession student, licensed clinician, faculty member, clinical site administrator, or other interested individual can complete and submit to HRSA online. Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Application and Other Forms Used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, and the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program, OMB No. 0915-0146-Revision." Revisions include adding a proof of citizenship document and an essay to the application packet for both the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program (SP) and NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP). Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - A call for papers for a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Papers should discuss innovation in rural healthcare delivery including topics such as workforce, capacity building, policy, tribal communities, technology, and anything else related to regional, rural, and remote health. The deadline to submit a manuscript is May 1, 2026.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Dec 15, 2025 - The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection regarding modifications to multiple forms used for management of the Health Center Program. Comments are due February 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 15, 2025 - The National Institutes of Health is seeking comments on an information collection regarding usability testing for NIH communication and education resources. Comments will receive full consideration if received within 60 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 12, 2025 - Highlights proposed legislation that would support the recruitment and retention of tribal law enforcement, increase resources for federal missing persons, and give Native communities and states new tools to respond to violence. The legislation has passed the Senate and will next to the House of Representatives.
Source: Office of Senator John Hoeven
Dec 12, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) confirming the September 30, 2024, final rule with comment period making revisions to the policy and procedures to strengthen oversight and management of the growing Community Facilities (CF), Water and Waste Disposal (WWD), Business and Industry (B&I), and Rural Energy for America (REAP) guarantee portfolios. This rule also responds to comments received in response to the final rule. The final rule is effective and confirmed as of November 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 11, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2, which will begin on July 1, 2026. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register