Rural Health
News by Topic: Specialty care
CMS: Medicare Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model
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
Dec 10, 2025 - Announces the expansion of a rural pediatric health networking and collaboration initiative in Georgia aiming to support access to pediatric healthcare. The program includes both a physician training and consultation component as well as specialty telehealth component to allow rural children to receive healthcare in their communities. Discusses scholarship opportunities to increase the pediatric health workforce and plans to continue expanding this program.
Source: The Den
Nov 21, 2025 - Profiles a rural Vermont medically complex child to highlight challenges in accessing specialty care for rural residents. Describes the emergency care action plan created by her medical team that allows her to continue living safely in her rural community.
Source: Larner News and Media
Nov 20, 2025 - Discusses health disparities among rural healthcare provider shortages nationally and in Montana. Highlights 2 residency programs in Billings, Montana aiming to address the shortages of internal medicine and psychiatry providers. Describes how rural practice is integrated into the residencies as well as the benefits for both physician residents and rural communities.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Nov 20, 2025 - A medical service helicopter has been stationed at a rural Texas airport to offer faster access to emergency care. The helicopter acts as a mobile intensive care unit and can offer advanced procedures during transportation to specialized treatment facilities.
Source: 12 News Now
CMS: Medicare Program; Announcement of the Re-Approval of COLA Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988; Correction
Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making corrections to the March 6, 2024, notice to add urinalysis to the list of specialties and subspecialties. This correction is effective November 19, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 15, 2025 - Highlights the work of rural health fellows at Augusta University in Georgia. Discusses the benefits to both the rural communities and the fellows themselves. Notes the potential for retaining fellows in rural practice where there are workforce shortages for both primary and specialty care.
Source: Jagwire