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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Jun 11, 2026 - Describes a planned notice of proposed rulemaking regarding budget neutrality standards for Medicaid section 1115 demonstrations. The new standard is expected to be in effect on or after January 1, 2027. States with demonstrations up for renewal in 2027 may be required to take additional steps in the renewal process. More information will be released in future rulemaking.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Newsroom
Jun 11, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establishing the CMS Office of Health Technology and Products (OHTP). OHTP will provide enterprise leadership and oversight for CMS healthcare technology modernization, digital products, and transformation of platforms and services supporting Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other CMS-administered programs. This organizational change was effective June 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with change of an information collection titled "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback." Information collected will be used to ensure that CMS customers and stakeholders have effective, efficient, and satisfying experiences with CMS's programs. Comments are due by August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Physician Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instruction." The physician certification and recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary's need for services has been established and then reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals and is a condition for Medicare Part A payment for post-hospital skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Comments are due by July 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation (COLA) as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for the specialty of histocompatibility. This approval is applicable from July 10, 2026, to June 10, 2031.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 8, 2026 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Committee members provide comments and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on physician payment models. Nominations are due July 13, 2026.
Jun 4, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Office of Personnel Management; Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of the Treasury; Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (DOL); and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) related to certain provisions of the No Surprises Act regarding the Federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. Among other things, this rule finalizes new requirements relating to the disclosure of information that group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage must include along with the initial payment or notice of denial of payment for certain items and services subject to the surprise billing protections in the No Surprises Act, amendments to certain requirements related to the open negotiation period preceding the Federal IDR process, and the definition of bundled payment arrangements. These rules are effective August 3, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 3, 2026 - Notice of an interim final rule with comment period from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the Medicaid community engagement requirement established by Public Law 119-21. This rule specifies the requirements and expectations for States implementing the community engagement requirement, including the Medicaid applicants and beneficiaries who must demonstrate community engagement as a condition of their eligibility, the types of qualifying activities that satisfy the community engagement requirement, the criteria to meet an exception from the requirement, and the criteria to meet a specified exclusion from the requirement. Among other things, this rule also establishes new state reporting requirements. These regulations are effective July 31, 2026. Comments are due by July 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 1, 2026 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. This rule is effective July 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services describing alternatives to modify the limit on the total payment rate and other requirements for State directed payments in Medicaid managed care. This rule also proposes to set a limit for certain targeted Medicaid payments in Medicaid fee-for-service. Includes rural considerations throughout. Comments are due July 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register