Category: HRSA

HHS and DEA Extend Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities

January 8, 2026

HHS and DEA Extend Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), jointly with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced a fourth extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2026. This extension ensures that patients who rely on telehealth – including seniors, rural residents, and people with disabilities – can continue accessing care.

The extension provides time to finalize permanent regulations and ensures a smooth transition for patients and providers.

Click Here to Learn More

New CMS Model: MAHA ELEVATE – Coming in Early 2026

January 2, 2026

New CMS Model: MAHA ELEVATE – Coming in Early 2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced a new payment model titled Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE). The model aims to support chronic disease initiatives for fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries.

A total of $100 million dollars will fund up to 30 proposals for three years. The proposals will include evidence-based whole-person care approaches currently not covered by original Medicare.

CMMI will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in early 2026 for the first cohort, and the voluntary model will launch on September 1, 2o26.

Click Here to Learn More

NARHC Webinar: Medicare Care Management Opportunities – What’s New for RHCs in 2026, December 17

December 11, 2025

NARHC Webinar: Medicare Care Management Opportunities – What’s New for RHCs in 2026, December 17

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host a free, FORHP-supported webinar via Zoom with information for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) on the basic requirements of care management, plus the latest changes from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

This webinar will feature a subject matter expert from the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. Additional time for Q&A will be provided.

Whether you’re curious about what it takes to begin your RHC’s care management program, or you’ve been providing these services since 2016 and want to explore the newest billing opportunities, you are encouraged to attend this technical assistance webinar.

Advanced registration is required.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, December 17, 2:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Telehealth Policy Updates

December 11, 2025

Telehealth Policy Updates

Recent legislation authorized an extension of many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities including waiving geographic and originating site restrictions through January 30, 2026. In support of the extensions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a related FAQ document for calendar year 2026. To support access to care in rural communities, telehealth policies allow:

  • Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified health Centers (FQHCs) can serve as Medicare distant site providers for non-behavioral/mental telehealth services through January 30, 2026.
  • Non-behavioral/mental telehealth services in Medicare can be delivered using audio-only communication platforms through January 30, 2026, and
  • FQHCs and RHCs can permanently serve as a Medicare distant site provider for behavioral/mental telehealth services and the in-person visit requirement for mental health services furnished via communication technology to beneficiaries in their homes is not required through January 1, 2026.

Click Here to see FAQ document for calendar year 2026

Visit Tehealth.HHS.gov for FAQs on telehealth policies for RHCs and FQHCs.

Final Outpatient Hospital Payment Rule Released, Effective January 1

December 11, 2025

Final Outpatient Hospital Payment Rule Released, Effective January 1

In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for hospital outpatient services under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for calendar year (CY) 2026.

In addition to finalizing the payment rates, this year’s rule includes an update to the methodology used to calculate the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating to emphasize the Safety of Care measure group in hospitals’ star ratings. It finalizes a new payment for drug administration services provided in off-campus outpatient departments, eliminates the ‘inpatient only’ list, changes the hospital price transparency requirements, and changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) programs.

CMS is not finalizing their proposal to increase the annual offset amount for non-drug items and services per the 340B Remedy Rule at this time.  CMS anticipates finalizing a larger reduction (such as 2 percent or other reduction greater than 0.5 percent) beginning in CY 2027; CMS will instead implement the previously finalized 0.5 percent reduction for CY 2026.

Click Here to Read More

Medicare Survey on Hospital Outpatient Drug Costs Begins January 1

December 11, 2025

Medicare Survey on Hospital Outpatient Drug Costs Begins January 1

Per an Executive Order and the 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will survey hospitals to find out how much they pay for outpatient drugs.

This survey runs from January 1 through March 31, 2026. The results will help shape Medicare payment policies starting in 2027.

Hospitals that received OPPS payments for outpatient drugs between July 1, 2o24 and June 30, 2025, must complete the survey.

Hospitals should confirm their Point of Contact by emailing OPPSDrugSurvey@cms.hhs.gov as soon as possible.

CMS is offering training webinars on December 1.

Click Here to Register for Webinar

Telehealth Resources for Rural Areas

December 1, 2025

Telehealth Resources for Rural Areas

1 in 5 people in the U.S. live in rural and frontier areas. Rural communities experience less traffic congestion, better air quality, and more open spaces. However, people living in rural areas have greater health care needs and more limited access to timely health services.

Telehealth can help reduce health disparities by increasing access to timely, high quality health care. Even in communities without access to broadband, some health care services can be provided by phone, secure messaging, and asynchronous care.

This best practice guide provides tools and resources to help health care providers effectively use telehealth in rural communities. This information can be used to establish a new program or expand and enhance an existing telehealth program.

Telehealth Resources

Click the links below to access:

Webinar: State Loan Repayment Program (HRSA-26-015) Technical Assistance, October 22

October 17, 2025

Webinar: State Loan Repayment Program (HRSA-26-015) Technical Assistance, October 22

Learn more about the eligibility requirements, application process, and ask questions during this live informational session.

Note: You must register to attend on Microsoft Teams. Register with the email address where you would like to receive the webinar link.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, October 22, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Accepting Applications: NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, Deadline November 6

September 26, 2025

Accepting Applications: NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, Deadline November 6

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program provides up to $120,000 in loan repayment funds to students in their final year of school who are studying to become a physician, dentist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife.

An additional $40,000 Maternity Care Target Area Supplemental Award is available to eligible physicians and certified nurse midwives. Designated Maternity Care Target Areas are within existing professional shortage areas that are experiencing a significant shortage of maternity health care professionals.

In exchange for loan repayment, participants must commit to three years of primary care services at approved sites in high-need areas.

The application deadline is November 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Click Here to Learn More and Apply