This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making corrections to the March 6, 2024, notice to add urinalysis to the list of specialties and subspecialties. This correction is effective November 19, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance amounts for hospital and extended care services provided during calendar year 2026 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). These rates are effective on January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year (CY) 2026. The premium is paid by enrollees aged 65 and over who are not otherwise eligible for Part A benefits and by certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement. This premium is effective on January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the monthly actuarial rates for beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) program beginning January 1, 2026. It also announces the monthly premium, the deductible for 2026, and income-related monthly adjustment amounts for beneficiaries with modified adjusted gross income above certain threshold amounts. These rates are effective on January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has waived a rule regarding rural rates for applicants of the Telecommunications Program of the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program for funding year 2026. Offers guidance on calculating rates.
Source: Universal Service Administrative Co.
Nov 18, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information." Medicare beneficiaries will use the Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information to authorize Medicare to disclose their protected health information to a third party. Comments are due by December 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 18, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and State-Based Administering Entities (AEs), titled "Determining Eligibility for Enrollment in Applicable State Health Subsidy Programs Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." The matching program will enable CMS to provide information to AEs to assist in verifying applicant information to determine applicants' eligibility for enrollment in applicable state health subsidy programs, as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Comments are due by December 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 12, 2025 - Highlights 2 new California laws aiming to increase access to maternal healthcare services in rural areas. One law creates a 10 year pilot program to operate standby maternity units for emergency care rather than maintaining staff full time. A second law relaxes licensing rules for birth centers. Discusses new maternity care options as a result of the new policies in Plumas County where a maternity ward closed in 2022.
Source: Cal Matters
Nov 12, 2025 - Describes a medical coding and billing training for rural healthcare providers in Texas. The training aims to help small clinics accurately submit reimbursement claims so that financially vulnerable facilities can stay open.
Source: KBTX
Nov 5, 2025 - 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) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 4) updates to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded 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, 2023 provisions; and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. These regulations are effective January 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register