Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Aug 4, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Centers revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2026. This rule also makes changes related to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; updates payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals; updates and make changes to requirements for certain quality programs; and finalizes certain updates to the ONC Health Information Technology (IT) Certification Program among other things. These final rules are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 23, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care as a national accrediting organization for Critical Access Hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by August 22, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 17, 2025 - Announces the first cohort of the new Rural Hospital
Stabilization Program (RHSP) consisting of 8 rural
hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) across the
U.S. RHSP is supported by the Federal Office of Rural
Health Policy (FORHP) and administered by the National
Rural Health Resource Center to provide technical
assistance and recommendations to rural hospitals on
financial assessments, operational performance, and
opportunities to fill gaps and enhance healthcare services
for the communities and populations they serve.
Source: National Rural Health Resource Center
Last Updated: 7/31/2025