News
- Iowa: $209M to Expand Advanced Medical Care, Maternal Telehealth & Cancer Prevention
- Louisiana: $37.7M to Train & Recruit More Rural Healthcare Workers
- Missouri: New Funding to Support Rural Healthcare Workers & Expand Maternal Care
- Nebraska: $177M to Recruit Rural Healthcare Workers, Expand Mobile Care & Modernize Services
- North Carolina: $17M for New Mental Health Clinics, Mobile Crisis Teams & Expanded Addiction Treatment
- Quality Payment Program: Seeking Nominations for Coronary Artery Disease Clinician Expert Workgroup by October 23
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments: Provide Input on Proposed Changes by December 7
- Prostate Cancer: Talk to Your Patients about Screening
Compliance
MLN Matters® Articles
- HCPCS Codes Used for Home Health Consolidated Billing Enforcement: January 2027 Annual Update
- Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System: FY 2027 Updates
- Long-Term Hospice Stay: New Edit to Prevent Overpayment – Revised
News
Iowa: $209M to Expand Advanced Medical Care, Maternal Telehealth & Cancer Prevention
This federal investment will bring advanced surgical capabilities to rural hospitals, connect patients with maternal specialists through telehealth, and modernize health information sharing across Iowa.
The Trump Administration announced more than $209 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding being put to work to strengthen healthcare delivery across rural Iowa through the state’s Healthy Hometowns initiative. This investment will support expanded clinical and maternal health services, rural workforce development, cancer prevention and screening, EMS and mobile health, and technology and infrastructure modernization across Iowa. Iowa has committed its full $209 million in funding to improving healthcare in rural communities across the state.
Read the full press release.
Louisiana: $37.7M to Train & Recruit More Rural Healthcare Workers
This federal investment will connect colleges to rural providers, create new career pathways, and help communities build the workforce they need.
The Trump Administration announced $37.7 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce across Louisiana. This investment will expand healthcare training opportunities and help rural providers recruit and retain the professionals they need.
Read the full press release.
Missouri: New Funding to Support Rural Healthcare Workers & Expand Maternal Care
This federal investment will expand childcare support for rural healthcare workers and launch nurse midwife training to help address maternal care gaps across Missouri.
The Trump Administration announced more than $2.3 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding to strengthen Missouri’s rural healthcare workforce and expand access to maternal care. This investment supports 2 targeted workforce initiatives in Missouri: expanding affordable, dependable childcare for rural healthcare professionals and delivering funding to establish a certified nurse midwife training program.
Read the full press release.
Nebraska: $177M to Recruit Rural Healthcare Workers, Expand Mobile Care & Modernize Services
This federal investment will bring new providers to rural communities, deploy remote-monitoring technology at dozens of healthcare facilities, and create hundreds of community health positions across Nebraska.
The Trump Administration announced more than $177 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to strengthen rural healthcare delivery across Nebraska. This investment will expand access to care, support healthcare workforce development, modernize rural healthcare technology, and bring services closer to home for rural and frontier communities.
Read the full press release.
North Carolina: $17M for New Mental Health Clinics, Mobile Crisis Teams & Expanded Addiction Treatment
This federal investment will bring crisis support directly to children and families and improve access to addiction and maternal mental healthcare across rural North Carolina.
The Trump Administration announced more than $17 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to expand mental health and substance use disorder services for North Carolina’s rural residents. The funding will support new behavioral health clinics, opioid treatment access, crisis response, early intervention, and perinatal behavioral healthcare across rural communities.
Read the full press release.
Quality Payment Program: Seeking Nominations for Coronary Artery Disease Clinician Expert Workgroup by October 23
CMS is seeking nominations for a clinician expert workgroup to provide input on developing the coronary artery disease episode-based cost measure, which may be considered for inclusion in the Quality Payment Program. If you’re a clinician interested in participating, submit your nomination by October 23 at 11:59 pm ET. The first workgroup meeting will be in December 2026.
More Information:
- Current Technical Expert Panel Opportunities webpage
- About Cost Measures & Development Process webpage
- Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes Workgroup Support Team: pcmp-workgroup-support@acumenllc.com
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments: Provide Input on Proposed Changes by December 7
CMS is seeking input on proposed changes to the rules implementing the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). Read the CLIA; Virtual Access, Gynecologic Cytology Proficiency Testing, Personnel Qualifications & Other Changes proposed rule and submit your comments by December 7.
For more information, visit the CLIA webpage.
Prostate Cancer: Talk to Your Patients about Screening
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Your patients’ Medicare Summary Notices promote prostate cancer screenings—talk to your patients about screening.
Medicare covers prostate cancer screening. Find out when your patient is eligible for screening (PDF). If you need help, contact your eligibility service provider.
More Information:
- Preventive Services webpage
- CDC Prostate Cancer webpage
- National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer webpage
- Prostate cancer screening information for your patients
Compliance
Optometry Services at Nursing Facilities: Bill Correctly
In a report, the Office of Inspector General found that Medicare improperly paid optometrists for high-level evaluation and management (E/M) services at nursing facilities. These E/M services aren’t usually billed by optometrists and don’t meet Medicare requirements.
Optometrists visit nursing facilities to provide services like:
- Eye exams for residents with diabetes and those at high risk for glaucoma
- Diagnostic tests and treatment for residents with age-related macular degeneration
During the audit, OIG determined that claims didn’t meet the E/M service criteria for moderate to high complexity level subsequent nursing facility care.
Learn how to bill correctly for optometry services at nursing facilities:
- Medicare Vision Services (PDF) booklet
- Items & Services Not Covered Under Medicare (PDF) booklet
- Medicare Preventive Services educational tool
MLN Matters® Articles
HCPCS Codes Used for Home Health Consolidated Billing Enforcement: January 2027 Annual Update
Learn about changes to the non-routine supply code list (PDF).
Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System: FY 2027 Updates
Learn about updates (PDF):
- Market basket
- Wage index
- Quality reporting program
- Rural adjustment
Long-Term Hospice Stay: New Edit to Prevent Overpayment – Revised
CMS revised this article to include bypass conditions for edits U5565 and U5566 (PDF).
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