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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

Aug 5, 2025 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Among other things, this rule proposes classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups, continues the second year of the 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and includes proposals for the IRF Quality Reporting Program. This final rule is effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 5, 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." Proposed revisions include adding a proof of citizenship document and 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). HRSA also proposes to convert the Enrollment Verification Form to an electronic workflow called In-School Verification. Comments are due by October 6, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - Request for comments from the Health Resources and Services Administration on an information collection titled "Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative Triannual Report OMB No. 0915-0051—Extension." HRSA proposes to revise a footnote to provide clarity on existing instruction. Comments are due October 6, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - Announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service of funding available for the Housing Preservation Grant program. The program will provide disaster assistance through grants or loans to repair or rehabilitate houses in rural areas impacted by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Helene in Tennessee. Applications are due September 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 4, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Centers revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2026. This rule also makes changes related to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; updates payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals; updates and make changes to requirements for certain quality programs; and finalizes certain updates to the ONC Health Information Technology (IT) Certification Program among other things. These final rules are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 4, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2026. Among other things, this rule updates the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 1, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making a point of contact correction to the June 20, 2025 information collection.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 1, 2025 - Announcement of the application process for the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program and call for comments related to the structure and application process of the program. This program is voluntary and aims to test a rebate model on a select group of drugs for the purpose of understanding the merits and shortcomings of the rebate model. Drug manufacturers interested in participating should email 340BPricing@hrsa.gov by September 15, 2025. The program will start January 1, 2026 and run for 1 year. Comments are due September 2, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 1, 2025 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is seeking comments on a proposed evaluation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Crisis Services program with a specific look at the impact of the program on suicide and overdose morbidity and mortality. Comments are due within 30 days of publication.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 31, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Medicare Quality of Care Complaint Form; 2) Solicitation for Applications for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 2027 Contracts; and 3) Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage for Applicable Integrated Plans in States that Require Integrated Materials. Comments are due by September 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register