RECENT ANALYSIS
Agency Awards $10 Billion in Second-Year RHTP Funding Reflecting State Implementation and Policy Progress
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced (press release; fact sheet) $10 billion in FY 2027 Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) awards to all 50 states, bringing cumulative awards to $20 billion. Overall funding remains unchanged from FY 2026, but individual allocations reflect, in part, states’ progress implementing approved initiatives and policy commitments. Here are the key… (Testa, November 9, 2026) #Delivery Reform, #Grants, #Rural Health
Commission Reviews Focus Group Findings on Medicare Coverage, Provider Access, and Prescription Drug Costs
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to examine findings from focus groups with Medicare beneficiaries and health care providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists. The research explored beneficiaries’ experiences with Medicare coverage, access to care, and prescription drug affordability, as well as providers’ perspectives on delivering care under Medicare. The findings offered qualitative insights into challenges… (Eisen, November 6, 2026) #Medicare Advantage, #Medicare Part D, #Pharmacies, #Prescription Drugs
Agency Proposes Revisions to Medicare and Medicaid Provider Requirements to Reduce Administrative Burdens; Comments Due January 11, 2027
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Cutting Administrative Requirements for Excellence in Patient Care (CARE)” (fact sheet) intended to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens for health care providers. What it is. Following a comprehensive review of provider and supplier requirements, CMS proposes changes to Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of… (Eisen, November 6, 2026) #Critical Access Hospitals, #Hospitals, #Long-Term Care, #Physicians, #Transparency, #Women’s Health, #Workforce