Rural Health
News by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models
Jan 8, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Enrollment and Re-Certification of Entities in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, OMB No. 0915-0327—Revision." HRSA requires covered entities to submit administrative information, certifying information, and attestation from appropriate grantee-level or entity-level authorizing officials and primary contacts in order to enroll and certify the eligibility of federally funded grantees and other safety net health care providers. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 7, 2026 - The Quality Payment Program is seeking feedback from the general public on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) candidates for 2027. Feedback will be reviewed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for consideration in future rulemaking. Comments are due February 6, 2026.
Source: Quality Payment Program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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
Dec 29, 2025 - Announces the distribution of $50 billion of funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Highlights goals of the funding including making rural healthcare more accessible, strengthening the rural healthcare workforce, modernizing rural health infrastructure and technology, streamlining workflows, and testing innovative payment models.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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
CMS: Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on a proposed rule implementing the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing Model ("GLOBE Model"), a new Medicare payment model under section 1115A of the Social Security Act. The GLOBE Model would test whether a payment model that uses an alternative method for calculating Part B inflation rebate amounts for certain separately payable Part B drugs and biological products reduces costs for Medicare fee-for service (FFS) beneficiaries and the Medicare program while preserving quality of care. Comments are due by February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model
Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on a proposed rule implementing the Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model to test a new Medicare payment model under section 1115A of the Social Security Act. The model proposes a test of an alternative payment method for calculating inflation rebates for certain Part D drugs and biological products. The proposed GUARD Model would test whether changing the calculation of the Part D inflation rebate would reduce costs for the Medicare program while preserving or enhancing quality of care for Part D enrollees. Comments are due by February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Request for Information: Accelerating the Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence as Part of Clinical Care
Federal Register
Dec 23, 2025 - Notice of a request for information on what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can do to accelerate the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care. Feedback is requested on how the technology can be most effectively applied, to foster public trust, to reduce uncertainty that impedes innovation, and align federal incentives to deploy AI in a way that enhances productivity, reduces burden, lowers healthcare costs, and improves health outcomes. Comments will be used to inform regulations, reimbursement, and research and development. Comments are due by February 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Dec 22, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) External Quality Review (EQR) of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care, EQR Protocols, and Supporting Regulations; and 2) Medicaid Drug Program. Comments are due by February 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the
August 5, 2025, final rule titled "
Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program."
Source: Federal Register

