Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models - Rural Health Information Hub

GAO: Request for Nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Committee members provide comments and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on physician payment models. Nominations are due July 13, 2026.

CMS: Medicare Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model

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

Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. This rule is effective July 1, 2026.

CMS: Medicaid Program: Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments

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

Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services describing alternatives to modify the limit on the total payment rate and other requirements for State directed payments in Medicaid managed care. This rule also proposes to set a limit for certain targeted Medicaid payments in Medicaid fee-for-service. Includes rural considerations throughout. Comments are due July 21, 2026.

CMS: Medicare Program: Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals 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.

Feenstra Introduces Legislation to Extend Rural Hospital Program

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces proposed legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Program for 5 more years. RCHD allows for innovative hospital payment models to support rural facilities.

HHS: Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amending the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations. Among other things, this rule rescinds four requirements added to the CCDF regulations in the March 2024 final rule, including limiting family co-payments to 7 percent of family income, providing some direct services through grants or contracts, paying providers prospectively, and paying providers based on enrollment. This rule is effective July 13, 2026.

Grassley, Bennet Lead Legislation to Extend Rural Hospital Program

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces proposed bipartisan legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program 5 more years. RCHD allows for innovative hospital payment model testing under Medicare to maintain healthcare access for rural communities.

From Sick Care to Health Care: One Way Rural Health Funding Could Change Alaska

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the implementation of the value-based care model in rural Alaska and discusses the model as part of the Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program plan.

Why One CMO Says Design Rather Than Volume is the Problem in Rural Healthcare

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Littleton Regional Healthcare CMO Richard McKenzie believes that success in rural healthcare delivery is dependent on how systems are designed, and how they provide access, support clinicians, and ensure sustainable revenue. McKenzie previously worked as a manufacturing engineer, combining efficiency with frontline realities.

Announcement: Age-Friendly Health

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Health Affairs has issued a call for journal articles focusing on age-friendly health including a focus on rural topics such as innovation in rural delivery of long-term services and supports, addressing rural care gaps associated with nursing home closures, and the impact of payment policies that boost rural home health supply in addition to workforce, caregiving, social determinants of health, technology, and more. Articles will be considered on an ongoing basis through June 2028.

WV's Shortage of Psychiatrists Worst in the Nation, Report Says

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes psychiatrist workforce shortages in West Virginia following a recent report that the state has the lowest supply in the nation. Discusses drivers of the shortage, including reimbursement rates and administrative process, fewer people entering the field, and behavioral health disparities in the state.

UnitedHealthcare Eliminates Most Medical Prior Authorizations, Accelerates Payments for Key Rural Care Hospitals and Providers Nationwide

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

A private insurance company has announced a pilot program that exempts many rural providers from most prior authorization requirements, increases payment speeds, and introduces a hub-and-spoke model of care to connect rural communities with regional expertise. The program, initially available in 4 states, is expanding to an additional 5 states now.

DOD: Extension of the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration; Correction

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

Notice from the Department of Defense (DOD) making corrections to the April 10, 2026, notice announcing the extension of the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) through December 31, 2031. This correction is effective April 17, 2026.

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 (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction

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

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the April 14, 2026, proposed rule. Comments on the proposed rule are due by June 9, 2026.