Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

May 18, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services containing methods to improve the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including payment parameters and provisions related to the HHS-operated risk adjustment and risk adjustment data validation (HHS-RADV) programs. Among other things, this rule also contains 2027 user fee rates for qualified health plans (QHPs) through Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) and State-based Exchanges on the Federal platform (SBE-FPs). This rule is effective 60 days from publication of the notice in the Federal Registration which is scheduled for May 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 15, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of home health agencies. The moratorium takes effect on May 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 15, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of hospices. The moratorium takes effect on May 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 14, 2026 - Quarterly listing of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and Federal Register notices published from January through March 2026, including contact information for general questions or additional information about specific sections.
Source: Federal Register
May 13, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on a proposal to amend regulations to establish certain fertility benefits as a new category of limited excepted benefits. Specifically, the agencies seek comments on the proposal to establish excepted fertility benefits as a new category of limited excepted benefits, the limits of the category itself, and the associated proposed conditions for such benefits to qualify as a limited excepted benefit set forth in this proposed rule. Comments are due by July 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 12, 2026 - Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposing to remove requirements from the Head Start Program Performance Standards to restore local flexibility to Head Start programs and improve access to quality services. Specifically, this NPRM proposes to remove requirements related to wages and benefits that the Administration believes are not in line with the plain language of the Head Start Act. Comments are due by June 11, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 12, 2026 - 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.
Source: Federal Register
May 11, 2026 - The Care Collaborative, a University of Kansas Health System patient safety organization, has launched a program to support maternity care in rural areas, by offering in-person instruction at emergency rooms across the state. In Kansas only about a third of rural hospitals still deliver babies.
Source: WAFB9
May 8, 2026 - A recent episode of the Iowa Economy Podcast features 3 healthcare and public health experts, who discuss how statewide health challenges are affecting Iowa's economy. They point out that these issues have implications for employers, workforce stability, and long-term economic growth.
Source: Business Record
May 4, 2026 - Several Oklahoma rural hospitals have created or expanded swing bed programs, which allow hospitals to use inpatient beds for post-acute care. The additional revenue stream helps facilities remain viable and avoid closure, and allows patients to receive follow-up care locally.
Source: Oklahoma Watch