RCPA Shares Updates on DHS H.R. 1 Committee, Eligibility, and SNAP Requirements
CMS
CMS Final Rule Implements Requirements for Administrative Simplification of HIPAA, ACA
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the final rule that implements requirements of the Administrative Simplification subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, enacted on March 30, 2010.
Specifically, this final rule adopts standards for health care claims attachments transactions, which will support health care claims transactions and a standard for electronic signatures to be used in conjunction with health care claims attachments transactions.
The final rule will slash wasteful spending and antiquated paperwork by swapping out faxing and mailing for streamlined electronic transactions. This action lets providers spend less time on administrative hassle and more time caring for patients and is projected to save the healthcare industry approximately $781 million on an annual basis.
The final rule will be published in tomorrow’s (March 24, 2026) Federal Register and will become effective on May 19, 2026. Covered entities must comply by May 19, 2028.
2026 CMS Burden Reduction Conference: Recordings and Key Takeaways
ODP Invites You to the ID/A Waiver Renewal Listening Sessions
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) waivers are required to be renewed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) every five years. The Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers, collectively known as the ID/A waivers, are scheduled for renewal effective July 1, 2027.
ODP invites you to participate in an upcoming listening session as part of the renewal process. Please join Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens and Director of Policy Julie Mochon for a general overview of the ID/A waivers and the renewal process during one of the two sessions listed below.
Attendees will have the opportunity to share valuable feedback and insights to help strengthen the Waivers and enhance the services provided through them. Stakeholder input gathered during these sessions will play an important role in informing the ID/A waiver renewal process.
Registration is required for each session. Due to limited space, ODP asks that you only register for one session. Register below:
Interested in providing feedback?
When registering for a session, you will be asked if you would like to provide verbal comments. Registrants can participate without providing comments.
If you register to provide comments, on the day of the session a moderator will share additional instructions about using the virtual meeting features.
When your name is called, you will have 3 minutes to provide your input.
CMS Issues Guidance on Medicaid Eligibility Determinations
CMS Delays Enforcement of Grievance System Requirements of Access Rule
ANCOR Listening Session on Fraud RFI Announced for March 6
CMS Releases Proposed Rulemaking for Input on Strengthening Supply Chain for PPE & Medications
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to obtain public feedback on potential approaches to strengthen the American-made supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medicines. Building on lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), CMS is exploring ways to reduce reliance on foreign-made medical supplies and enhance the nation’s readiness for future emergencies while supporting American workers and manufacturers.
The proposed rule requests comments on new avenues CMS may consider promoting domestic purchasing by hospitals that participate in the Medicare program, including the potential creation of a new “Secure American Medical Supplies” designation for hospitals committed to American-made purchasing and streamlined payment approaches to help offset the resource costs of domestic procurement.
Comments on the ANPRM are due by March 30, 2026.
CMS Releases Revisions to Telehealth & Remote Monitoring
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a revised Medicare Learning Network (MLN) booklet that contains revisions to telehealth and remote monitoring. Specific changes noted in this publication include:
- The addition of a resource link for the latest telehealth information;
- Additional information on how to suppress a practitioner’s home address in PECOS;
- The removal of telehealth frequency limitations for subsequent inpatient, nursing facility, and critical care consultations;
- Permanently allowing teaching and supervising physicians to supervise through virtual presence;
- Continued payment to Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) for medical telehealth services through December 31, 2026;
- Starting in CY 2026, only adding services to the Medicare telehealth services list on a permanent basis;
- The addition of 5 new CPT and HCPCS codes to the Medicare telehealth services list; and
- For CY 2026, updates to the:
- Medicare Economic Index; and
- Originating site fee.
Members are encouraged to review the booklet for more details on these changes.
Adult Autism Waiver 5-Year Renewal Open for Public Comment
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to invite public comment on proposed changes for the renewal of the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves waivers for a five-year period, and the current AAW expires on June 30, 2026. Therefore, ODP must submit a renewal for the AAW to CMS no later than April 1, 2026. The AAW renewal is anticipated to be effective on July 1, 2026. The public comment period starts on January 17, 2026, and ends on February 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
As part of this process, ODP is seeking your valuable feedback and comments on the AAW. Proposed substantive changes include:
- Separating out Life Sharing and Residential Habilitation: Community Homes as distinct services.
- Removing the lifetime funding limit on Assistive Technology devices and replacing it with a $3,000 annual limit. Participants who need Assistive Technology that exceeds this limit may request an exception.
- Extending the re-authorization period for Career Planning services from 90 days to 6 months and removing time limitations for the Supported Employment service.
- Clarifying the components of the Specialized Skill Development (SSD) service.
- Removing Speech/Language service component from the Therapy service.
- Enhancing Home Modification service to include additional allowances.
The proposed changes discussed in the section above are available to help all interested persons provide public comment. Public comments will be accepted via email, written comments, and verbal comments during a webinar held on February 9, 2026. All comments received by 11:59 pm on February 16, 2026, will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the AAW submitted to CMS.
Please review ODPANN 26-011 for more details.
