Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Legislation and regulations - Rural Health Information Hub

Lawmakers Send Bill to the Governor to Help Rural Hospitals Open New Services

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes state-level legislation in Mississippi creating a pilot program that changes certificate of needs (CON) laws. The program would loosen CON regulations for small communities with extra exemptions for the Mississippi Delta. Discusses the potential impact on rural hospitals.

IHS: Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF) Fiscal Year 2026 Threshold

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of final rule from the Indian Health Service (IHS) announcing the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF) threshold for fiscal year 2026. The purpose of the CHEF is to meet the extraordinary medical costs associated with the treatment of victims of disasters or catastrophic illnesses who are within the responsibility of IHS.

CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 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; Correction

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the November 5, 2025, final rule. This correction is effective March 12, 2026.

NC Has Plenty of Doctors and Nurses to Deliver Babies, but Rural Counties Still Go Without

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the maternal healthcare workforce distribution in North Carolina and health disparities for rural residents where there are workforce shortages. Notes that recent policy measures aiming to increase rural access with certified nurse midwives has not fully addressed the shortage. Discusses the potential for doulas to fill the gap.

HHS: Agency Information Collection Request; 30-Day Public Comment Request

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection titled "Civil Rights and Conscience Complaint and Health Information Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Complaint." The revisions omit certain questions to reduce the burden on the complainant, clarify terms, update statutory and regulatory authorities, and conform the forms to E.O. 14168 on "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" and the court order in Texas v. Becerra, No. 6:24-CV-211-JDK, 2024 WL 4490621, at *2 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 30, 2024). Comments are due by April 6, 2026.

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

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by April 1, 2026.

CMS: Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs: Announcement of Nationwide Temporary Moratoria on Enrollment of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Supplier Medical Supply Companies

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier medical supply companies. The moratorium takes effect on February 27, 2026.

Thompson, Tokuda, Alford, and Cuellar Lead Effort to Help Protect Critical Access Hospitals

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Announces a bipartisan bill that would create a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital designation called an "In Character" Critical Access Hospital. The new designation would ensure hospitals already designated as CAHs do not lose their designation and directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide administration for the designation.

The Pulse: Virginia Expands Maternal Mental Health and Cervical Cancer Screening Efforts

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Describes state-level legislation and community initiatives in Virginia to improve access to care for maternal mental health issues and cervical cancer screening. Discusses efforts to include rural residents to specialty care through telehealth.

IRS, TREAS, EBSA, DOL, CMS, HHS: Transparency in Coverage

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of the Treasury, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (DOL), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extending the comment period for the December 23, 2025, proposed rule titled "Transparency in Coverage." Comments are now due March 2, 2026.

CDC: National Center for Health Statistics, Meeting of the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Announces a virtual public meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Classifications and Public Health Data Standards, ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance (C&M) Committee to be held on March 17-18, 2026. The agenda includes a discussion of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS topics, a list of which is provided in the notice. Registration is required.

HHS: Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder; Correction

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) making corrections to the February 2, 2024, final rule titled "Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder." These corrections are effective February 23, 2026.

CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; Quality Reporting Programs; Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating; Hospital Price Transparency; and Notice of Closure of a Teaching Hospital and Opportunity To Apply for Available Slots; Correction

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the November 25, 2025, final rule. This correction is applicable January 1, 2026.

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

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Emergency and Foreign Hospital Services and Supporting Regulation in 42 CFR 424.103; 2) Consumer Experience Survey Data Collection; 3) Summary of Benefits and Coverage and Uniform Glossary; and 4) Transformed—Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS). Comments are due by April 14, 2026.

Mississippi Senate Pushes to Let Rural Hospitals Offer New Services

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Highlights policy efforts in the Mississippi legislature aiming to support rural hospitals in creating new revenue streams through new services. The proposed legislation amends certificate of need regulations in the state.

Nunn Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Make Rural Telehealth Expansions Permanent

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Announces a bipartisan bill to permanently extend COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities for rural areas.

Salinas, Moolenaar, Tokuda, Moylan Lead Bipartisan Effort To Save Rural Hospitals And Clinics

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Congressional representatives Andrea Salinas (OR), John Moolenaar (MI), Jill Tokuda (HI), and James Moylan (Guam) have introduced the Rural Health Care Facilities Revitalization Act, a bill to strengthen the nation's rural healthcare infrastructure and ease financial pressures faced by rural hospitals. The bill authorizes rural health facilities to use Community Facility Loans or loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to refinance debt, update technology, and support operating expenses to ensure financial stability.

CMS: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on a new matching program between CMS and the Social Security Administration (SSA) titled "Determining Enrollment or Eligibility for Insurance Affordability Programs Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." This matching program will provide CMS with information for determining individuals' eligibility for enrollment in a Qualified Health Plan, issuing certificates of exemption, and eligibility redeterminations and renewals. Comments are due by March 11, 2026.

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

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers; 2) 13th SOW Quality Innovation Network—Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) and American Indian Alaskan Native (AIAN) Measure Data Collection; and 3) Conditions of Participation for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities' (PRTFs) Use of Restraint & Seclusion. Comments are due by March 9, 2026.

Thompson Leads Effort to Expand Veterans' Access to Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Describes proposed bipartisan legislation permanently authorizing telescreening mammography services in rural and other areas for veterans.

DEA: Registering Emergency Medical Services Agencies Under the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice of final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) establishing a new registration category for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies that handle controlled substances in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017. This rule creates standards for registering EMS agencies; establishes requirements for delivery, storage, and recordkeeping related to their handling of controlled substances; and allows EMS professionals to administer controlled substances outside the physical presence of a medical director or authorizing medical professional while providing emergency medical services. This rule is effective March 9, 2026.

KY Lawmaker Wants EMS Reimbursements Increased to Address Shortages

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Describes proposed policy to increase emergency medical service (EMS) reimbursement rates in Kentucky. Highlights long response times across the state, particularly for rural residents, and the strain that underfunding puts on EMS workforce.

Cortez Masto, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Health Outcomes for Tribal Communities

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Announces bipartisan legislation to elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The change would allow for greater authority in recruiting and retaining IHS workforce.

HRSA: Request for Public Comment on the Updated Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed updates to the criteria for determining Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTAs), geographic areas within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals. Comments are due by March 5, 2026.

CMS: Medicaid Program; Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Populations-Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) closing a loophole in a regulatory statistical test applied to State proposals for Medicaid tax waivers. The loophole allows some healthcare-related taxes, especially taxes on managed care organizations, to be imposed at higher tax rates on Medicaid taxable units than non-Medicaid taxable units. This rule adds additional safeguards to ensure that tax waivers that exploit the loophole are not approved. This final rule also summarizes comments CMS received in response to the proposed rule, including the impact of changes to healthcare-related tax revenues on rural providers. These regulations are effective April 3, 2026.

RBS, RHS, RUS: Notice of Funding Opportunities for the Strategic Economic and Community Development Program for FY 2026

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) providing application requirements for funding reserved under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority program. USDA is implementing SECD in fiscal year 2026 by reserving funds from the covered program. This notice describes the requirements by which RD will consider projects eligible for covered programs' reserved funds and information needed to apply.

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Announces the fiscal year 2027 registration period for H-1B visas, running March 4th through March 19th. Describes new regulations for the registration process.

Proposed Mississippi Legislation Targets Food Deserts, Insecurities

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Discusses food deserts in rural and other parts of Mississippi, associated health disparities, and proposed legislation to support communities in food deserts. Notes that rural residents are on average 30 miles away from a grocery store.

HHS: Medicare and State Health Care Programs: Fraud and Abuse; Request for Information Regarding the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Beneficiary Inducements CMP

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on whether any additions or modifications are needed to the safe harbor regulations under the Federal anti-kickback statute or the exceptions to the civil monetary penalty provision prohibiting inducements to beneficiaries for emerging direct-to-consumer sales programs established by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Comments are due by March 30, 2026.

DOD: Modifications to the Reimbursement of Childbirth Support Services Under the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Department of Defense (DOD) Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announcing adjustments to the certified labor doulas (CLDs) performing childbirth support services under the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD). This notice announces changes to the reimbursement methodology for childbirth support services intended to stabilize reimbursement. DHA is modifying reimbursement for childbirth support services so that the rate approved for March 1, 2025, will be considered a "baseline." The DHA Director will approve a new baseline if it is found that TRICARE reimbursement is not keeping pace with Medicaid reimbursement. The new reimbursement methodology will be effective for rates beginning March 1, 2026.