Rural Health
News by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models
Jun 15, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on a proposed information collection request (ICR) titled "340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Application, Implementation, and Evaluation, OMB No. 0906-NEW." HRSA's Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) intends to introduce a revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (Pilot) as a mechanism for qualifying drug manufacturers, who wish to participate, to effectuate the 340B ceiling price on a limited set of drugs sold to covered entities using rebates. This ICR includes the collection of proposed rebate model plans from qualifying drug manufacturers, the ongoing collection of sales data from drug manufacturers to allow OPA to monitor implementation of the Pilot and enhance 340B program integrity and compliance monitoring, and the collection of data submitted by covered entities to manufacturers to request a rebate under a potential Pilot. Comments are due by July 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
GAO: Request for Nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)
Federal Register
Jun 8, 2026 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Committee members provide comments and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on physician payment models. Nominations are due July 13, 2026.
CMS: Medicare Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model
Federal Register
Jun 1, 2026 - Notice of a final 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. 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. This rule is effective July 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Medicaid Program: Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments
Federal Register
May 22, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services describing alternatives to
modify the limit on the total payment rate and other
requirements for State directed payments in Medicaid
managed care. This rule also proposes to set a limit for
certain targeted Medicaid payments in Medicaid
fee-for-service. Includes rural considerations throughout. Comments are due July 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the April 14, 2026, proposed rule. Comments on the proposed rule are due by June 9, 2026.
May 21, 2026 - Announces proposed legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Program for 5 more years. RCHD allows for innovative hospital payment models to support rural facilities.
Source: Office of Representative Randy Feenstra
May 12, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amending the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations. Among other things, this rule rescinds four requirements added to the CCDF regulations in the March 2024 final rule, including limiting family co-payments to 7 percent of family income, providing some direct services through grants or contracts, paying providers prospectively, and paying providers based on enrollment. This rule is effective July 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 30, 2026 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program 5 more years. RCHD allows for innovative hospital payment model testing under Medicare to maintain healthcare access for rural communities.
Source: Office of Senator Chuck Grassley
Apr 28, 2026 - Describes the implementation of the value-based care model in rural Alaska and discusses the model as part of the Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program plan.
Source: Alaska Public Media
Apr 27, 2026 - Littleton Regional Healthcare CMO Richard McKenzie believes that success in rural healthcare delivery is dependent on how systems are designed, and how they provide access, support clinicians, and ensure sustainable revenue. McKenzie previously worked as a manufacturing engineer, combining efficiency with frontline realities.
Source: HealthLeaders Media