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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Mar 10, 2026 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, dba QUAD A, for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Rural Health Clinics that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from March 23, 2026, through March 23, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 10, 2026 - Highlights the increased cost of healthcare for rural Vermont residents due to Medicare reimbursement policy for Critical Access Hospitals. Notes that policymakers are investigating solutions that equitably distribute cost while supporting CAHs that may be negatively impacted by budget changes.
Mar 6, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the February 11, 2026, proposed rule. This correction is effective March 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 6, 2026 - Profiles a labor and delivery department in a rural North Carolina Critical Access Hospital. Maternity services were re-started in 2020 using family physicians after closing the department in 1991. Describes maternity care access across North Carolina, challenges with sustaining the service for rural communities, and how they can be a model to other rural communities.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Mar 3, 2026 - Highlights a Pennsylvania recipient of the Health Resources & Services Administration's Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant. Describes their progress in forming a plan for the Rural Health Collaborative including how to develop a network that meets community needs and utilizes existing resources.
Source: WPSU
Mar 2, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Quality of Care Complaint Form." Comments are due by April 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by April 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 27, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier medical supply companies. The moratorium takes effect on February 27, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 27, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking stakeholder feedback on potential regulatory changes that may be included in a proposed rule regarding the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative and to inform other programmatic changes that could be implemented to make CMS more effective in addressing fraud. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to CMS, including modifications to program integrity requirements, preventing fraudulent billing in Medicare Advantage, reducing fraudulent Medicare Parts A and B claim submissions, using artificial intelligence in MA coding oversight and billing, and more. Comments are by March 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 27, 2026 - Announces the White Earth Nation's healthcare system has received national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. They are the first tribal nation in Minnesota to receive this accreditation. Describes the benefits of being accredited.
Source: MPR News