- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
ARC Release Fiscal Year 2026 Economic Status Designations for Appalachia’s 423 Counties
Today, ARC released their Fiscal Year 2026 economic status designations for Appalachia’s 423 counties.
- In FY 2026, the number of Appalachian counties designated as economically distressed will decrease to 75.
- This is the lowest number since ARC began using this index-based classification system 20 years ago.
- Improvement comes from a decrease in the number of distressed counties in Appalachian Alabama, Ohio and West Virginia. Thirty-three counties will see a positive shift in their economic status.
Work remains to ensure that all of Appalachia experiences upward growth. Fourteen of Appalachia’s counties experienced a decline in economic status. ARC uses county designations to set grant match rates, monitor trends and direct investments to the region’s most distressed communities. Learn more about the FY 2026 data
CMS Releases New Guidance on Hospital Price Transparency
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) released new guidance on how hospitals should calculate the estimated allowed amount values for their online machine-readable files as part of the Hospital Price Transparency requirements. Whenever possible, hospitals should use electronic remittance data to determine the average dollar amount received over the last 12-month period. If there is no historic data, hospitals should use the expected payment amount, encoded as a dollar figure. Hospitals will no longer be able to use a code of nine number nines to signify that there was not sufficient historic data for that item or service over the last year.
CMS also seeks public input by July 21, 2025 to identify challenges and improve compliance and enforcement processes related to the reporting of complete, accurate, and meaningful pricing data by hospitals.
New ERS Report Shares Data on Rural Population Changes
The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on recent data showing that the number of rural people of working age (between 15 and 64 years old) has fallen in recent years, dropping to 28 million in 2023 from more than 30 million in 2010. At the same time, the number of rural residents aged 65 and over grew from 7.4 million in 2010 to 9.7 million in 2023.
Read the report here.
New Pennsylvania Caregiver Program Launches New Guide, Tools
Pennsylvania just unveiled a game-changer for its 1.5 million unpaid caregivers: the PA CareKit. Launched by the Department of Aging, this new resource is packed with tailored guides, respite care connections, and essential tools designed to ease the burden on everyone from spouses to grandparents raising grandkids. As part of the state’s decade long “Aging Our Way, PA” initiative, the CareKit was shaped by caregivers themselves. With one in four Pennsylvanians already over 60, this couldn’t come at a better time. Free print kits will be available at libraries and senior centers, helping caregivers provide compassionate care without sacrificing their well-being.
New Self-Paced Course Launched on Minimally Invasive Procedures
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is offering a new self-paced course, “Innovative Pediatric Dental Care: Exploring Minimally Invasive Procedures.” This online course equips dental professionals with the knowledge and tools to integrate evidence-based, minimally invasive solutions into pediatric care. It explores fluoride and silver diamine fluoride applications, atraumatic restorative treatment, and the Hall technique for stainless steel crowns. There is 1 CEU available for dental providers.
Getting Help for Adults Needing Dental Care
Do you work with any individuals who may be elderly, veterans, considered medically fragile, or have disabilities, with no way to afford dental treatments? Through Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated Dental Services program, they may be eligible to receive free dental care. Dental Lifeline Network partners with volunteer dentists and labs in communities to provide comprehensive dental care to qualified adults in need of dental care, at no cost. Individuals can qualify to receive life-changing dental care.
CDC Publications Warehouse Closing: Last Chance to Order Printed CDC Materials!
Pursuant to a decision made in 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is announcing the upcoming closure of the CDC Publications Warehouse in September 2025. As we prepare for this transition, we want to ensure that our valuable resources are utilized effectively by our partners and grantees.
Key Details:
- Closure Date: September 2025
- Final Order Deadline: August 15, 2025
Please note that while we will no longer provide printed materials through this service, electronic versions will continue to be available at www.cdc.gov.
Action:
We encourage all CDC partners and grantees to take advantage of this opportunity to order printed publications that can aid in your health promotion efforts. Our materials cover a wide range of topics, including disease prevention, health education, and community health initiatives. There is no cost to order.
How to Order:
Visit the CDC Publications Warehouse website at CDC Publications On Demand to browse our catalog and place your orders before the August 15 deadline.
We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to public health. Together, we can ensure that these important resources reach those who need them most.
USDA Announces New Presidential Appointee to Serve Rural Pennsylvania
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Michael Cabell is appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for the state of Pennsylvania. Director Cabell will implement President Trump’s America First agenda at USDA Rural Development, ensuring the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers remain a top priority.
“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again,” said Secretary Rollins.
“I’m honored by the trust President Trump and Secretary Rollins have placed in me to lead USDA Rural Development in Pennsylvania,” said Cabell. “Our mission is simple but critical: to strengthen the backbone of America by investing in rural communities. Whether it’s expanding access to reliable infrastructure, supporting farmers and small businesses or improving quality of life, I will work relentlessly to ensure that the America First agenda delivers real results for the people who feed, build, and power this country.”
Michael Cabell brings a strong record of public service and private sector leadership to his role as State Director. He previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he worked on issues impacting infrastructure, economic growth, and education in rural communities. Before his legislative service, Michael co-founded a multi-site behavioral healthcare company that serves communities across Pennsylvania.
State Directors serve as the Chief Executive Officer of USDA Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with leading teams to carry out the mission of Rural Development to the benefit of all rural Americans. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the National Office, State Directors are responsible for advancing the key priorities and initiatives of the Presidential Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. State Directors also provide key leadership to foster a mission-driven, accountable, and high-performing workforce focused on operational excellence, public trust, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
To learn more about USDA Rural Development’s leadership and programs, view www.rd.usda.gov. For general inquiries, email RD.PA.General.Inquiries@usda.gov.
Perspective: Why Work Requirements for Medicaid “Don’t Work”
Work requirements are the big Medicaid change that people so far find most politically palatable, with a majority of adults supporting them, writes Axios’ Maya Goldman. Safety net programs like Medicaid are supposed to catch vulnerable Americans and keep them from falling further into poverty.
‘Primary Care is the Answer’ to Make America Healthy Again
Primary care could and should be at the center of any plan to Make America Healthy Again, said public health experts who shared their reactions to public testimony of the nation’s health leader. Primary care is vital for better health outcomes and cost reduction, yet the U.S. has not fully embraced it. Proposed budget cuts to Medicaid and primary care could reduce access, especially in rural areas, affecting public health.