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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Legislation and regulations

Jan 6, 2026 - Describes findings from a recent study evaluating access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in Kentucky. Notes planned policy efforts as a result of study findings. Discusses rural-specific challenges with maintaining access to SANEs including training and retaining workforce.
Source: Kentucky Lantern
Jan 5, 2026 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposing amendments the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations. Among other things, this rule proposes rescinding the requirements added to the CCDF regulations in the March 2024 final rule, including limiting family co-payments to 7 percent of family income, providing some direct services through grants or contract, paying providers based on child's enrollment, and paying providers prospectively. Comments are due by February 4, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 2, 2026 - Announces that the COVID-19 public health emergency telemedicine flexibilities have been extended until December 31, 2026. Notes that the flexibility increases access to prescriptions for controlled medications for rural residents and others.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dec 31, 2025 - The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing a temporary rule to extend certain exceptions to existing DEA regulations implemented in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (COVID-19 PHE). The full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescription of controlled medications that were in place during the COVID-19 PHE as outlined in the Third Temporary Rule will remain in place through December 31, 2026. This rule is effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 31, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection titled "Civil Rights and Conscience Complaint and Health Information Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Complaint." The revisions omit certain questions to reduce the burden on the complainant, clarify terms, update statutory and regulatory authorities, and conform the forms to E.O. 14168 on "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" and the court order in Texas v. Becerra, No. 6:24-CV-211-JDK, 2024 WL 4490621, at *2 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 30, 2024). Comments are due by March 2, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 31, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection request titled "Bureau of Health Workforce Health Workforce Connector OMB No. 0906-0031-Revision." The Health Workforce Connector (HWC) provides a central platform to connect participants, including but not limited to those in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs (Nurse Corps), Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty (PS) Loan Repayment Program, Nursing Training, and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) programs with facilities that are approved for their programs. Comments are due by March 2, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2025 - A Virginia law that went info effect Nov. 19, 2025 allows certified nurse midwives to perform newborn care on their own in hospitals, though this is not a requirement. Supporters say this change might help keep labor and delivery units open in rural areas.
Source: Cardinal News
Dec 29, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (RHT). The office will oversee the RHT Program, an initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to care nationwide.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dec 29, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposing deregulatory actions identified in HHS regulations regarding health information technology standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria and certification programs for health information technology, as well as information blocking. ASTP/ONC intends for the revisions and removal of select regulations to streamline and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers, health information technology (IT) developers, and the health IT community overall. Comments are due by February 27, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 29, 2025 - Notice from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) withdrawing non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule titled "Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability." The withdrawal of the non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule is effective December 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register