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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models

Jan 22, 2026 - Notice from the Indian Health Service (IHS) announcing the calendar year 2026 reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient medical care provided by IHS facilities to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal program beneficiaries. The updated rates apply to all qualifying services provided on or after January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 20, 2026 - Highlights a state-funded program offering charter flights for rural Hawaiians with off-island medical appointments. Describes current and projected funding needs for sustainability, physician shortages in rural areas, reimbursement rate challenges driving workforce shortages, and the state's Rural Health Transformation Program plans.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses the work of independent pharmacies in rural communities and the challenges that come when one closes. Highlights reasons for closures including workforce recruitment challenges and low reimbursement rates. Discusses recent Colorado legislation that aimed to ease burdens on rural pharmacies in the state.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science News and Features
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses reasons for labor and delivery department closures across Pennsylvania including challenges with recruiting and retaining obstetricians and gynecologists and low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Also notes poor health outcomes associated with maternal healthcare deserts. Describes potential solutions including increasing access to and the scope of practice for nurse midwives and certified midwives
Source: The Pennsylvania Independent
Jan 12, 2026 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implementing section 120 of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which allows the VA to increase the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives for eligible veterans. VA will now pay up to 100% of the nursing home rate in a fiscal year for all eligible veterans who need non-institutional care to improve continuity of care and patient outcomes. This guidance is effective September 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 8, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Enrollment and Re-Certification of Entities in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, OMB No. 0915-0327—Revision." HRSA requires covered entities to submit administrative information, certifying information, and attestation from appropriate grantee-level or entity-level authorizing officials and primary contacts in order to enroll and certify the eligibility of federally funded grantees and other safety net health care providers. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 7, 2026 - The Quality Payment Program is seeking feedback from the general public on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) candidates for 2027. Feedback will be reviewed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for consideration in future rulemaking. Comments are due February 6, 2026.
Source: Quality Payment Program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Jan 5, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposing amendments the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations. Among other things, this rule proposes rescinding the 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 contract, paying providers based on child's enrollment, and paying providers prospectively. Comments are due by February 4, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 29, 2025 - Announces the distribution of $50 billion of funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Highlights goals of the funding including making rural healthcare more accessible, strengthening the rural healthcare workforce, modernizing rural health infrastructure and technology, streamlining workflows, and testing innovative payment models.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dec 29, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (RHT). The office will oversee the RHT Program, an initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to care nationwide.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services