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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Sep 25, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Do Not Pay Working System. The purpose of the matching program is to provide CMS with information to identify providers and suppliers who are ineligible for Medicare enrollment; suspend or revoke the Medicare billing privileges of the identified disqualified providers and suppliers; enable the recoupment of past payments made to those providers and suppliers; detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and avoid making future improper payments to disqualified providers and suppliers; and enhance patient safety for beneficiaries in CMS programs. Comments are due by October 26, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking public input regarding the establishment of standards for reasonable and relevant pharmacy contract terms and conditions under the Medicare prescription drug benefit as outlined by Section 6223(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75). Specifically, CMS seeks comments on pharmacy reimbursement and dispensing fees, current contract practices, trends in contract terms and conditions, and pharmacy quality and performance measures, among other things. Comments are due by November 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 24, 2026 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the extension of funds for certain health centers to avoid a gap in services while HRSA awards funds through the fiscal year 2027 Service Area Competition. Health centers with a current period of performance of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026, or February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2027, will receive an extension of funds through June 30, 2027. Health centers with a current period of performance of March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2027, will receive an extension with funds through July 31, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 23, 2026 - Executive Order from the Office of the President regarding the H-1B program. Among other things, this Executive Order directs the Secretary of State, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate and consult with the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Education, and Administrator of the Small Business Administration to ensure the compliance of H-1B petitions and visas with regulatory requirements.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 23, 2026 - Announces funding awarded from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to support new or existing rural health networks in several states. Describes the role of health networks in strengthening rural healthcare delivery.
Source: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Sep 23, 2026 - Notice of interim final rule with comment period from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) codifying its authority to impose a temporary moratorium pausing the registration of agents and brokers that do not have a current Plan Year registration with the Federally-facilitated exchanges. Specifically, this notice announces that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is imposing a temporary moratorium to pause the registration of agents and brokers that do not have Plan Year 2026 Exchange agreements with the Federally-facilitated exchanges and are seeking to enter into agreements with CMS to assist consumers with enrollment through the Federally-facilitated exchanges for Plan Year 2027. This moratorium does not affect registrations on the state-based exchanges. The moratorium is effective September 22, 2026, until February 1, 2027, unless it is modified by CMS in a subsequent Federal Register notice. This interim final rule is effective September 22, 2026. Comments are due by November 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 18, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announcing changes to the TRICARE program benefits for calendar year 2027. Outlines annual changes, new and expanded benefits, demonstration programs, pharmacy out-of-pocket expenses for CY 2027, and more. This TRICARE Health Plan information is applicable to services beginning January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 17, 2026 - Discusses recent research highlighting labor and delivery service access issues and describes challenges for rural Missouri. Discusses long travel times to care, why offering labor and delivery care is challenging for rural facilities, and how Rural Health Transformation Program funding is supporting doula and other services aiming to fill gaps.
Source: KCUR, NPR
Sep 17, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from September 26, 2026, through September 26, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 16, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcing the annual adjustment in the amount in controversy (AIC) threshold amounts for Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings and judicial review under the Medicare appeals process. The calendar year 2027 AIC threshold amounts are $200 for ALJ hearings and $2,000 for judicial review. These adjustments will be effective on January 1, 2027.
Source: Federal Register