– Comment by July 11. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comments from the public on the following information collections: 1) Identification of Extension Units of Medicare Approved Outpatient Physical Therapy/Outpatient Speech Pathology (OPT/OSP) Providers and Supporting Regulations and 2) Conditions for Certification for Rural Health Clinics and Conditions for Coverage for Federally Qualified Health Centers in 42 CFR 491.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) addressed the remaining proposed policies from the November 15, 2025 Contract Year 2025 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program proposed rule. In this recent final rule, CMS revised the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) and regulations to implement changes related to required standards for electronic prescribing and adoption of health information technology (IT) standards for Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) use. CMS will require Part D sponsors, prescribers, and dispensers of covered Part D drugs for eligible individuals to comply with standards CMS has either adopted directly or is requiring by cross-referencing ONC standards for electronically transmitting prescriptions and prescription-related information. These regulations are effective June 17, 2024.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an informational bulletin, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.  The guidance describes opportunities for state Medicaid agencies to receive enhanced federal matching rates for certain health Information Technology aimed at increasing access to behavioral health treatment and improving coordination of care for co-occurring physical health conditions, such as telehealth and electronic connections to Health Information Exchanges. It also reminds state Medicaid agencies how to apply for enhanced Medicaid matching rates for these types of expenditures.  Medicaid is an important source of insurance in rural areas, and leveraging federal dollars can help rural communities expand their capacity to deliver behavioral health services.

This toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support chronic disease management programs in rural communities across the United States. It covers several common chronic conditions including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, cancer, obesity, and chronic pain.  Developed in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, it’s part of a growing collection of resources available at the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub).

– Apply by July 26.  HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce aims to increase the supply of nurses in rural and underserved areas, specifically in acute and long-term care settings.  Eligible applicants are public and private institutions of higher education and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

The PA Department of Health released PA-HAN-753 on June 6 asking that clinicians continue to test for influenza in patients with respiratory illness throughout the summer, particularly in individuals who are severely ill, or individuals with influenza-like illness with or without a fever or conjunctivitis, particularly in persons with relevant exposures (e.g., dairy cows, raw milk, wild birds, poultry, agricultural fair attendance). Forward to the state public health laboratory for further testing the following: any specimens that are positive for influenza A but are subtype negative; or influenza A positive specimens that are subtype influenza A (H1) and not influenza A(H1)pdm09 on tests designed to provide an influenza subtyping result and confirmed upon retest or specimens from severely ill patients for which subtyping is not done.,. Please call the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) at 1-877- PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or your local health department.

Corry Memorial Hospital Association in northwest Pennsylvania was one of 15 recipients to share $11 million in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding to establish new residency programs in rural communities. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerras said, “Training more doctors in our country’s rural areas is a proven strategy to recruit and retain doctors to serve rural communities. By funding new residency programs focused on OB-GYN training, we can help eliminate maternal care deserts, an important step in making pregnancy and childbirth safer.” Corry Memorial Hospital, which is associated with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), will establish a new psychiatry residency program.