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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Aug 12, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is requesting comments on an information collection titled "Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement" regarding electronic collection and verification of payment information for Medicare providers/suppliers. Comments are due October 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 12, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) prohibiting the use of Medicaid funds for procedures identified as gender-affirming care for children under 18. Additionally, the rule prohibits the use of federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for procedures identified as gender-affirming care for children under 19. This rule is effective 60 days following publication, which is scheduled for August 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 11, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting comments on the process used to accelerate Medicare coverage through the Regulatory Alignment for Predictable and Immediate Device (RAPID) coverage pathway for new technologies. The RAPID coverage pathway will provide accelerated Medicare beneficiary access to certain eligible Class II and Class III Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough-designated Devices. Comments are due October 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 7, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposing to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Among other things, the proposed revisions intend to reduce Federal regulation and duplication; empower states, local programs, and families with greater authority and flexibility; advance the health and well-being of children and communities; and reinforce evidence-based standards for health, nutrition, and physical activity. Comments are due by October 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 5, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and the Department of War titled "Verification of Eligibility for Minimum Essential Coverage Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through a Department of War Health Benefits Plan." CMS will share data from the Department of War with state administering entities (AEs) to verify if an applicant is enrolled in Minimum Essential Coverage in a Veterans Health Administration Health Care Program. This information from the Department of War will be used to assist CMS and AEs in determining if an individual is eligible for financial assistance. Comments are due by September 4, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 5, 2026 - A new pharmacy has opened in a rural Wisconsin community. Discusses the access challenges the community has previously faced and the advantages of participating in a network of pharmacies.
Source: WKBT
Aug 4, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2027. This rule also makes changes to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals; and requirements for certain quality programs, among other things. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) also adopts certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications on behalf of HHS. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 4, 2026 - The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has added a new accreditation category for rural hospitals with the goal of improving healthcare quality and outcomes for cancer patients. Notes that there are fewer accredited hospitals and less access to specialty care in rural areas.
Source: PR Newswire
Aug 3, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the prospective payment system (PPS) rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule includes classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups, finalizes the third and final year of the 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and updates the IRF Quality Reporting Program and changes to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding alternative data sources for the IRF PPS wage index and potential future IRF PPS payment reform. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 3, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule finalizes conforming regulation text changes to discharge from hospice care regulations and the face-to-face encounter regulations. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding community-based palliative care; the construction of a hospice-specific wage index; and the overlap between hospice and medical aid in dying laws. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register