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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Jul 10, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of The Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for home health agencies that wish to participate in Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is effective March 31, 2026, through June March 31, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the interoperability and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks. This Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes requiring NG911 service providers to conduct multi-party interstate interoperability testing of 911 traffic and seeks comments on how 911 authorities can integrate advanced technology into NG911 networks to improve accessibility. Comments are due by August 10, 2026, and reply comments are due by September 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the reliability and interoperability of emerging Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks. Among other things, this rule updates the definition of "covered 911 service provider" in the FCC's existing 911 reliability rules to ensure that the rules apply to service providers that control or operate critical pathways and components in NG911 networks, as well as updating reliability standards for providers of NG911 functions to ensure the reliable delivery of 911 traffic to NG911 delivery points. This rule is effective August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Healthy Start Evaluation and Quality Improvement, OMB No. 0915-0338—Revision." Proposed revisions include changes to clarifying instructions, updating response options to replace obsolete categories, separating response options to better reflect current program priorities, and adding fields to capture the month of infant birth and/or death. Comments are due by September 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs revising its medical regulations to add a new method of notification for emergency treatment furnished by community providers to be authorized under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). Among other things, this rule amends the requirement that a notice of emergency treatment authorized under the VCCP be provided to the appropriate VA official at the nearest VA facility within 72 hours of treatment by adding that notice can also be provided through the centralized notification process. This rule is effective August 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 9, 2026 - Discusses the importance of fall prevention for older adults and particularly for rural older adults who are less likely to have access to emergency services and follow up rehabilitation. Notes that data show high rates of fall-related deaths and increases in emergency service responses to falls in Wisconsin. Notes that fall prevention can help aging rural adults maintain independence longer.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jul 9, 2026 - Describes an air medical response nonprofit program in Montana that aims to bring emergency medical care to residents in remote parts of the state. Discusses how the group manages Montana's geographic and weather challenges, costs associated with equipment and training, and its membership model.
Source: NBC Montana
Jul 8, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a virtual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment on August 24, 2026. The purpose of the Panel is to advise the Secretary on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment Classification groups and their associated weights, which are major elements of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and the Ambulatory Surgical Center payment system, and supervision of hospital outpatient therapeutic services. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the Panel's website. Presentations and comment letters are due by July 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 7, 2026 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2027, including changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment systems. Among other things, this rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program; requests information regarding potential approaches to improve comparability and standardization of the HPT information reported in machine-readable files and consumer-friendly displays, particularly for complex contracting methodologies; and announces notices of closure of teaching hospitals and opportunities to apply for available slots. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 6, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowing an additional 30 days for comment on the April 7, 2026, notice regarding a proposed information collection that will be used to improve public health/public safety partnerships and responses to the overdose crisis that involve public safety. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register