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

Census Bureau: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau seeking comments on the proposed extension of an information collection titled "Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing." The clearance will be used to conduct pretesting of decennial and demographic census and survey questionnaires, as well as communications and marketing strategies and data dissemination tools for the Census Bureau, prior to fielding them. Comments are due by September 18, 2026.

CMS: Medicare Program; Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Draft Guidance; Comment Request

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on draft guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program regarding manufacturer effectuation of the maximum fair price in 2028 for the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Comments are due by September 18, 2026.

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

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Pre-publication notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the May 20, 2026, final rule. These corrections are effective July 20, 2026.

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.

NHTSA: National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is accepting applications from qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as members of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC). NEMSAC serves as a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Applications are due by August 17, 2026.

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

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

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Application To Be a Qualified Entity to Receive Medicare Data for Performance Measurement/Reapplication/Annual Report Worksheet and 2) Good Cause Processes. Comments are due by August 17, 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

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, 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: 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.

Arizona Advances Tribal Health Data Sovereignty with New Policy

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces the new Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy, believed to be the first in the nation to formalize how tribal health data is managed between the government and tribal nations. Describes how the policy will be rolled out in phases as well as how the policy was created collaboratively between the state and tribal nations.

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.

Tick-Borne Allergy Explodes in Missouri

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

Discusses an increase in cases of alpha-gal syndrome in Missouri, particularly among rural residents and farmers. Notes proposed legislation that aims to improve tracking of positive cases in the state.

Grain Bin Accidents Remain Deadly. One Farmer Hopes His Family's Story Can Help.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses the risk of grain bin incidents on farms, noting that fatality rates remain high despite increased training for first responders. Highlights safety equipment and policy measures that can prevent deaths.

VA: Expansion of VA Process for 72-Hour Notification of Emergency Treatment