Articles and Blogs

**NOTE** This newsletter will not be published next week. The next issue will be distributed on 10/3. NATIONAL Advocates say rural hospitals need Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion CMS opens $50B rural health fund to states: 1-time application due Nov. 5 CMS ties rural health funding to PA practice environments Health systems push... READ MORE

NATIONAL A rare nurse role that is eliminating hospital pain points AHA accuses drugmakers of 340B ‘conspiracy,’ urges federal probe AHA, others urge legislators to prevent Medicaid DSH cuts AMA backs HHS’ crackdown on information blocking Antitrust lawsuit against Epic can continue, federal judge says Bill with 6% HHS funding cut advances: 5 notes... READ MORE

NATIONAL A network strategy helping rural hospitals thrive: 6 notes A disjointed map of vaccine guidance emerges AHA comments to HRSA on proposed 340B rebate model program AMA split on RFK Jr. CMS broadens access to catastrophic exchange plans CMS Moves To Rescind Federal Nursing Home Staffing Mandate CMS updates AHEAD model: 6 things... READ MORE

NATIONAL 10 new statistics on the physician shortage A $50B rural health fund was negotiated with hospitals in mind. Experts are split on whether it will help them at all. AAAHC releases updated guidelines: 5 things to know CDC director Susan Monarez is out after less than a month on the job and other... READ MORE

NATIONAL $50B rural health fund not a cure-all for hospitals: Bloomberg 98% of small medical practices wrongly claim HIPAA compliance: Survey AAAHC releases updated guidelines: 5 things to know CBO report warns of nearly $500B in potential Medicare cuts CMS Pauses Nursing Home Care Compare Updates, Leaving 5-Star Ratings Static Court approves Blue Cross’... READ MORE

NATIONAL 2 more cases challenging Medicare negotiation rejected in federal courts 340B rebate pilot tees up healthcare industry firestorm AHA, FAH file amicus brief in lawsuit against FTC for changes to premerger notification rule AHA urges CMS to ensure efficient application and award process for rural health fund An ‘urgent’ health system battleground Average... READ MORE

NATIONAL 20 academic health systems acquiring hospitals 2 Healthcare Stocks That Have Doubled Over the Last Year but Still Have Room to Run 5 Joint Commission moves AAMC throws support behind 340B access bill Acute care hospitals get a 2.6% raise for 2026 AMA and other medical associations are kicked out of CDC vaccine... READ MORE

NATIONAL 1st-of-its-kind nurse certification to launch 2026 340B drug rebates coming as HRSA launches pilot program Ambience Healthcare reaches $1.25B valuation As CMS Has Certificate of Need Laws in Crosshairs, States Debate Their Usefulness to Nursing Homes Bundled payments lead to better joint replacement outcomes: Study Dr. Oz to outline rural healthcare plans at... READ MORE

NATIONAL 24 large health systems growing bigger 340B Health pushes back on CMS plan for steeper hospital cuts 21 states sue CMS over new ACA restrictions 3 states regulating AI and mental health 5 concerning trends ASC leaders are flagging 8 systems net big results moving from ‘healthcare to health’ AHA Board names Bill... READ MORE

NATIONAL Biden-era medical debt rule scrapped Changes are needed to stem primary care physician shortages CMS proposes 2026 Medicare rule: 6 notes CMS’ $7.8B hospital clawback plan ‘illegal and unwise’: AHA CMS proposes rule aligning Medicare physician payment with ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ MACRA Hawley introduces bill to wipe hospitals’ Medicaid funding cuts, boost rural... READ MORE