https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/topics/medicaid Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Medicaid - Rural Health Information Hub en Copyright 2026 Rural Health Information Hub https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/10/2026-04595/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-application-from-the-american-association-for-accreditation-of Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, dba QUAD A, for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Rural Health Clinics that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from March 23, 2026, through March 23, 2032. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38324 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/03/10/missouri-hospital-medicaid-pilot-torch-program/ Highlights a pilot program in a rural Missouri community offering a coordinated response to health and social needs for Medicaid patients. The program allows hospitals and other organizations to refer patients to service providers and track whether their needs are getting addressed. Describes how the program was started, the federal waiver that allows the program to run, and the technology used for it. Discusses sustainability challenges common for rural service providers. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38328 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/27/2026-03968/request-for-information-rfi-related-to-comprehensive-regulations-to-uncover-suspicious-healthcare Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking stakeholder feedback on potential regulatory changes that may be included in a proposed rule regarding the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative and to inform other programmatic changes that could be implemented to make CMS more effective in addressing fraud. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to CMS, including modifications to program integrity requirements, preventing fraudulent billing in Medicare Advantage, reducing fraudulent Medicare Parts A and B claim submissions, using artificial intelligence in MA coding oversight and billing, and more. Comments are by March 30, 2026. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38287 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/23/2026-03437/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-quarterly-listing-of-program-issuances-october-through-december-2025 Quarterly listing of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and Federal Register notices published from October through December 2025, including contact information for general questions or additional information about specific sections. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38270 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/13/2026-02871/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-for-omb-review-comment-request 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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38249 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/13/2026-02967/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-for-omb-review-comment-request The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Program; 2) National Implementation of the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS); and 3) Elimination of Cost-Sharing for Full Benefit Dual-Eligible Individuals Receiving Home and Community-Based Services. Comments are due by March 16, 2026. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38250 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/06/2026-02371/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-for-omb-review-comment-request 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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38227 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/02/2026-02040/medicaid-program-preserving-medicaid-funding-for-vulnerable-populations-closing-a-health 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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38208 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/29/2026-01803/modifications-to-the-reimbursement-of-childbirth-support-services-under-the-tricare-childbirth-and 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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38201 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/22/2026-01178/reimbursement-rates-for-calendar-year-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. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38184 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://pennsylvaniaindependent.com/uncategorized/maternal-health-care-deserts-rural-hospitals-physicians-obgyn-midwives-childbirth/ 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 https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38168 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600