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

Why Are Some Rural Medicare Patients Paying More than Patients at Bigger Hospitals?

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

Highlights the increased cost of healthcare for rural Vermont residents due to Medicare reimbursement policy for Critical Access Hospitals. Notes that policymakers are investigating solutions that equitably distribute cost while supporting CAHs that may be negatively impacted by budget changes.

Kentucky Faces Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Shortage, Impacting Rural Communities

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

Discusses sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) shortages across Kentucky, particularly in rural areas where case volume and access to training are limited. Describes the impacts of SANE shortages for assault survivors and state policy measures being considered to address the shortage.

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.

CDC: Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Developmental/Methodological Projects to Improve the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and Related Programs." NHANES produces descriptive statistics, which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. The purpose of these projects is to evaluate proposed survey designs, content, methods, and alternative approaches to survey activities for NHANES or National Center for Health Statistics-wide projects. Comments are due by May 8, 2026.

RBS, RHS, RUS: OneRD Annual Notice of Guarantee Fee Rates, Periodic Retention Fee Rates, Loan Guarantee Percentage and Fee for Issuance of the Loan Note Guarantee Prior to Construction Completion for Fiscal Year 2026

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announcement from the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service of guarantee fee rates, guarantee percent for guaranteed loans, the periodic retention fee, and fees for the issuance of the loan note guarantee prior to construction completion for FY 2026 for the following loans programs: 1) Community Facilities, 2) Water and Waste Disposal (WWD), 3) Business and Industry, and 4) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). These fees are effective on October 1, 2025.

ED: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program Regs

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Department of Education is seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection titled "Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program Regs." Comments are due by April 8, 2026.

CMS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program; Correction

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

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the February 11, 2026, proposed rule. This correction is effective March 6, 2026.

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.

CDC: Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; Notice of Charter Renewal

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the charter renewal of the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (BSC, NCIPC). The charter renewal is effective for a two-year period, through January 13, 2028.

VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting

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

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting on March 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include updates from VA leadership, the Executive Director of the VA Office of Rural Health, and the Committee Chair, as well as presentations by subject matter experts on general rural healthcare access.

HRSA Reaffirms Commitment to Rural America During the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute

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

Summarizes remarks from Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) administrators at the 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Discusses workforce, healthcare delivery, administration priorities, the Rural Health Transformation Program, and more.

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.

CMS: Request for Information (RFI) Related to Comprehensive Regulations To Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH)

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

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.

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.

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.

HRSA: Request for Information: 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Extension

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

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on the February 17, 2026, request for information regarding the potential use of rebates to effectuate the ceiling price under the 340B Program. Comments are now due by April 20, 2026.

HRSA: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Application, Implementation, and Evaluation, OMB Number 0906-NEW

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

Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on a proposed information collection request titled "340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Application, Implementation, and Evaluation, OMB No. 0906-XXXX." This information collection request includes the collection of proposed rebate model plans from qualifying drug manufacturers, the ongoing collection of sales data from drug manufacturers for program evaluation and 340B Program integrity and compliance monitoring, and the collection of data submitted by covered entities to manufacturers to request a rebate in connection with a potential 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. Comments are due by April 27, 2026.

FCC: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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

Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs are designed to facilitate and support access to affordable broadband services for low-income consumers and families. Comments are due by March 27, 2026.

FCC: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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

Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs are designed to facilitate and support access to affordable broadband services for low-income consumers and families. Comments are due by March 27, 2026.

FCC: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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

Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and the Puerto Rico Department of the Family to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs are designed to facilitate and support access to affordable broadband services for low-income consumers and families. Comments are due by March 27, 2026.

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.

FCC: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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

Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs are designed to facilitate and support access to affordable broadband services for low-income consumers and families. Comments are due by March 26, 2026.

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 and Medicaid Programs; Quarterly Listing of Program Issuances-October Through December 2025

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

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.

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.

HHS: Agency Information Collection Request. 60-Day Public Comment Request

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Minority Health (OMH) seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection titled "OMH Think Cultural Health." The Think Cultural Health (TCH) website is an initiative of HHS OMH that provides resources and tools to promote cultural and linguistic competency in health and healthcare. The information collected will be used to enable health and healthcare professionals to register for courses; obtain accredited continuing education credits; and help ensure that TCH offerings remain relevant, useful, and responsive to the needs of their target audiences. Comments are due by April 21, 2026.

FCC: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on a new computer matching program between the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Family Resources to verify the eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs are designed to facilitate and support access to affordable broadband services for low-income consumers and families. Comments are due by March 20, 2026.

USDA: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The United States Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research or Development of Nutrition Education and Promotion Materials and Related Tools and Grants for FNS Population Groups." This information collection will be used by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to gather input into the development of nutrition education interventions that resonate with the intended target population, particularly low-income families. Comments are due by March 19, 2026.