Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Healthcare quality - Rural Health Information Hub

HRSA: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners-45 CFR Part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081-Revision

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners—45 CFR part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081—Revision." The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) aims to improve the quality of healthcare by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies, and other eligible entities providing healthcare services to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional behavior, and to restrict the ability of incompetent healthcare practitioners, providers, or suppliers to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging or incompetent performance. Comments are due by September 15, 2026.

CMS, CDC, HHS: Request for Information; Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Regulations

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are seeking comments on various topics related to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 including breath testing; laboratory processes and procedures; emergency preparedness, biosafety and security, and cybersecurity; and specialty testing areas. The use of remote direct observation for assessing laboratory personnel competency for the benefit of rural and remote facilities is of particular interest. Comments are due by September 14, 2026.

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey for Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS); and 2) Hospice Survey and Deficiencies Report Form and Supporting Regulations. Comments are due August 17, 2026.

CMS: Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Generic Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) CHIP State Plan Eligibility; 2) Model Application Template and Instructions for State Child Health Plan Under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, State Children's Health Insurance Program; 3) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Quality Measure Set (QMS) Reporting; 4) Medicaid State Plan Eligibility; 5) Health Home State Plan Amendment (SPA); 6) Child and Adult Core Set Measures; and 7) Health Home Core Sets. Comments are due July 30, 2026.

CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Calendar Year 2027 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing: 1) changes to the Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B payment policies; 2) policies for the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; 3) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 4) updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B; 5) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 6) updates to the Quality Payment Program; 7) updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); 8) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; 9) codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 provisions; 10) updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. Comments are due on September 14, 2026.

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) State Exchange Improper Payment Measurement (SEIPM); and 2) Consumer Experience Survey Data Collection. Comments are due August 13, 2026.

CMS: Secretarial Comments on the Consensus-Based Entity's (CBE) (Battelle Memorial Institute) 2025 Activities: Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Consensus-Based Entity (CBE) Report on 2025 Activities to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary's comments on the report, are published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Federal Register in accordance with the Social Security Act. The report includes references to challenges related to quality measure reporting for rural providers and rural facilities.

PQM: Comment on Draft Committee Rosters by July 20

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Requests comments on 9 draft committee rosters supporting Endorsement and Maintenance, Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review, and Measure Set Review. Comments are due July 20, 2026.

CMS: Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; and Quality Reporting Programs; Including the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Program; Request for Information on Strengthening the Standardization and Comparability of Hospital Price Transparency (HPT) Data; Prior Authorization; Accrediting Organization (AO) Deeming for Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); and Notices of Closure of Teaching Hospitals and Opportunities To Apply for Available Slots

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2027, including changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment systems. Among other things, this rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program; requests information regarding potential approaches to improve comparability and standardization of the HPT information reported in machine-readable files and consumer-friendly displays, particularly for complex contracting methodologies; and announces notices of closure of teaching hospitals and opportunities to apply for available slots. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.

CMS: Calendar Year 2027 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update; Requirements for the HH Quality Reporting Program and the Expanded HH Value-Based Purchasing Model; Medicare Provider Enrollment, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and DME, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Policies

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2027. This rule also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements. Among other things, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.

Bipartisan Ways & Means Legislation to Improve High Quality Health Care Delivery Approved by House

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes new bipartisan legislation passed out of committee to the full U.S. House of Representatives. The Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act offers aims to streamline and reduce costs for Accountable Care Organization (ACO) reporting by allowing facilities to transition to digital quality measures.

CMS: Medicare Program; CY 2027 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System, Acute Kidney Injury Dialysis (AKI) Payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year 2027 and proposing updates to the payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by an ESRD facility to individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI). Among other things, this rule also proposes updated requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and includes requests for information (RFI) to inform future policies related to increasing home dialysis uptake, improving palliative dialysis, and supporting alternative dialysis schedules. Comments are due by August 24, 2026.

Comment on Proposed Measures for the 2026 Measure Set Review (MSR) Cycle

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Comments are requested for the 2026 Measure Set Review cycle. 39 active measures with a focus on the Safety priority are being reviewed. Comments are due July 6, 2026.

Indian Health Service Receives Gift Membership to Expand Training for Serious Illness Care

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has a new membership with a palliative care organization with the goal of expanding access to training and resources. Selected IHS workforce participants will gain access to a library of courses, tools, webinars, and experts to improve palliative care quality and outcomes.

Call for Comments: E&M Guidebook Version 4.0

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Partnership for Quality Measurement is seeking comments on a draft edition of E&M Guidebook Version 4.0. Comments are due July 5, 2026.

Now Open: Public Comment for Spring 2026 E&M Measures

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Partnership for Quality Measurement is seeking comments in the Spring 2026 Endorsement and Maintenance cycle. Comments are due July 7, 2026.

Meeting the Moment in Rural Health Transformation: Stratis Health Accelerates National Impact Through NARHI Acquisition

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The National Alliance for Rural Health Improvement (NARHI) has been acquired by Stratis Health and renamed the Rural Health Quality Improvement Exchange (RHQIX). RHQIX is a membership organization aiming to impact rural healthcare access, quality, and outcomes through education, professional development, peer networking, and rural-focused resources.

How Rural Hospitals Are Strengthening Heart and Stroke Care

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the American Heart Association's Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator, a program designed to assist rural hospitals with implementing evidence-based heart disease and stroke care. The 3-year free program includes access to resources, peer-learning and collaboration, and the AHA's Get With The Guidelines program. Highlights improved outcomes at hospitals across the country as part of participation in the program. Enrollment is open through June 2028.

Working Draft Guidebook of Policies and Procedures for PRMR and MSR 2026

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Comments are being accepted on the Partnership for Quality Measurement's 2026 draft of the Guidebook of Policies and Procedures for Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) and Measure Set Review (MSR). 2026 updates include PRMR recommendations meeting structure, PRMR measure previews, MSR performance and impact analyses, public comment posting, and website enhancements. Comments are due June 21, 2026.

In Texas, Rural Nursing Homes Outperform Urban Facilities on Some Key Metrics

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Analyzes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nursing home data to compare rural and urban staffing and health inspection ratings in Texas.

CMS: Medicare Program: Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.