Rural Health
News by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Apr 29, 2026 - Describes the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program in Choctaw Nation and Osage Nation. Discusses the opportunities that become available to communities once reliable broadband is available.
Source: KOSU, NPR
Apr 28, 2026 - Discusses the implementation of prescription benefit information in electronic health records among rural providers. Discusses federal policy work to ease challenges with using health technology in rural practices.
Source: GovCIO Media & Research
Apr 20, 2026 - Examines ways in which rural communities can create accountable care programs, using funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Notes that rural areas have tighter social networks, clearer referral pathways, and fewer competing delivery systems, which can support accountable care after infrastructure is in place.
Source: Health Affairs
Apr 14, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposing to improve the electronic exchange of healthcare data and streamline processes related to prior authorization by increasing the interoperability of systems used across the healthcare industry. Among other things, this rule proposes new requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, state Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) programs, state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) FFS programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) to make electronic prior authorization for drugs available; to report their application programming interfaces (API) endpoints and related information for the Patient Access, Provider Directory, Provider Access, Payer-to-Payer, and Prior Authorization APIs to CMS; and extend many existing interoperability requirements for the prior authorization of non-drug items and services to include prior authorizations for drugs. In addition, ONC proposes adopting updated versions of certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications for HHS use. Comments are due by June 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 14, 2026 - Google.org and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation are investing $10 million into training rural healthcare workers to use AI-powered tools. The initiative is intended to automate scheduling, streamline patient documentation, and make clinic operations more efficient, in facilities that are struggling with workforce shortages and administrative overload.
Source: The Tech Buzz
Apr 14, 2026 - Rhode Island Gov. Daniel J. McKee has submitted a budget amendment for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 that allocates $16.7 million for the state's Rural Health Information Technology Modernization Program. The amendment will support hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care practices, and behavioral health providers, and will allow pharmacists and dental hygienists to practice at the top of their licenses. An additional $16.2 million will be used to expand rural hospital-at-home programs.
Source: Providence Business News
Apr 6, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a delay in the implementation of two services from the list of Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) model items and services. The two services for which the prior authorization or pre-payment review process are delayed are 1) Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor and Parkinson's Disease (NCD 160.24) and 2) Percutaneous Image-Guided Lumbar Decompression for Spinal Stenosis (NCD 150.13). This notice is effective April 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 6, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making typographical and technical corrections to the July 1, 2025 notice titled "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model." Corrections are effective April 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority; Office of The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Federal Register
Apr 1, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reversing the July 29, 2024, notice that moved technology and data policy and strategy functions from the Assistant Secretary for Administration to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). This notice restores ONC as a singularly titled office. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of the HHS Chief Technology Officer, Office of the HHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and Office of the HHS Chief Data Officer will no longer be part of ONC.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 25, 2026 - Announces increased funding caps for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) programs including the Rural Health Care program under the Healthcare Connect Fund.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Related funding:
Rural Health Care Program – Healthcare Connect Fund