Rural Healthcare Payment and Reimbursement – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Nov 5, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a final 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) limiting Medicare coverage of certain individuals; 4) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 5) updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B; 6) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 7) updates to the Quality Payment Program; 8) updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); 9) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; 10) codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 provisions; 11) updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; and 12) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. These regulations are effective January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 30, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes related to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year 2027 and updating the payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by an ESRD facility to individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI). This rule also updates the requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program. These regulations are effective January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 26, 2026 - Describes the application of a direct primary care (DPC) model of care in an agricultural Oklahoma community. Discusses how the model works, why a provider may want to use the model, and the geographic distribution of DPC practices.
Source: Farm Press
Oct 6, 2026 - Discusses the mixed results of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, an experimental payment structure program that aimed to stabilize the finances of rural hospitals. Explores what worked and what did not, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the program, lessons learned about rural hospital reimbursement, and how community resources and services can impact hospital stability.
Source: WHYY
CMS: Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Federal Register
Oct 2, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing Model (GLOBE Model), a new Medicare payment model under section 1115A of the Social Security Act. The GLOBE Model would test whether a payment model that uses an alternative method for calculating Part B inflation rebate amounts for certain separately payable Part B drugs and biological products reduces costs for Original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries and the Medicare program while preserving quality of care. This rule also summarizes and responds to comments received on the December 23, 2025, proposed rule, including the potential impact of this model on small rural hospitals. These regulations are effective November 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the August 4, 2026, final rule. These corrections are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register