Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare quality

CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards; Correction Federal Register

Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the August 4, 2026, final rule. These corrections are effective October 1, 2026.

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CMS: Request for Information; Medicare Part D Reasonable and Relevant Pharmacy Contracting Standards Federal Register

Sep 24, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking public input regarding the establishment of standards for reasonable and relevant pharmacy contract terms and conditions under the Medicare prescription drug benefit as outlined by Section 6223(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75). Specifically, CMS seeks comments on pharmacy reimbursement and dispensing fees, current contract practices, trends in contract terms and conditions, and pharmacy quality and performance measures, among other things. Comments are due by November 23, 2026.

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CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Federal Register

Sep 14, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Provider Experience of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) Program; 2) Use Agreement (DUA) Limited Data Set (LDS) Forms Research Identifiable Files (RIF) Forms; and 3) Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204. Comments are due by November 13, 2026.

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CMS: Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records Federal Register

Sep 9, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modifying an existing system of records maintained by CMS titled "Hospice Item Set (HIS) System." The amended System of Records Notice (SORN) reflects changes to now include real time data collection at the time of patient assessments to improve the understanding of patient care needs and care coordination. CMS is also changing the name of the system of records to "Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE)." This modified system of records notice is effective on September 9, 2026, with the exception of the routine uses, which are effective October 9, 2026. Comments are due within 30 days of the publication of this notice.

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