Government shutdown watch: Various hospital funding sources to be curtailed (updated 11/17/25)
Nov. 17 update: Sizable Medicare payment cut avoided The continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 30 has language canceling a looming PAYGO reduction to federal programs, including a 4% cut to Medicare that would have taken effect in 2026. PAYGO is a statutory across-the-board spending reduction to be implemented when legislation increases the…
Contract Year 2026 Medicare Advantage Plan Provider Directory Data Requirements Final Rule Summary
HFMA provides a detailed summary of the final rule finalizing a previously proposed Medicare Advantage plan provider directory requirement.
CMS describes how $50 billion will be distributed for rural healthcare
The Trump administration announced the application period for the Rural Health Transformation Program, giving states an opportunity to claim a piece of a $10 billion FY26 allotment on behalf of their hospitals and clinics. Created by the budget reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the fund is set to disburse up…
A large health system says revenue could fall by at least $50 million if the ACA subsidies expire
With time running short to maintain enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces, health system leaders are trying to gauge the consequences of a potential mass disenrollment. Universal Health Services (UHS), a for-profit system that operates more than 400 care sites, is one of the few healthcare organizations to have publicly released…
HFMA Comments on Revisions to Payment Policies under the CY 2026 Medicare PFS, Quality Payment Program and Other Revisions to Part B
HFMA submits comments pertaining to Proposed Rule CMS-1832-P Revisions to Payment Policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Quality Payment Program and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2026.
CMS gives updates on upcoming Medicaid state-directed payment limits
CMS has issued guidance to Medicaid programs about implementing required restrictions on the state-directed payments (SDPs) made through Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). The budget reconciliation law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes a provision that all SDPs submitted after July 4 for hospitals must be limited to the Medicare rate…
Senate, House release diverging HHS budget proposals for FY26 (updated-2)
Note: This article was updated Sept. 16 with news about a short-term continuing funding resolution and Sept. 10 with new numbers for some provisions in the House appropriations bill. Sept. 16 update Republicans in the House are focusing on a short-term continuation of FY25 federal funding as the most direct route to avoiding a partial…
FY 2026 Hospice Payment Rate Update Final Rule Summary
HFMA presents a detailed summary of the final rule updating the Medicare hospice payment rates, wage index, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program for FY 2026.
Court limits CMS’s authority to immediately apply the ACA marketplace program integrity final rule
A federal judge blocked many of the Trump administration’s plans to constrict enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace health plans in the name of program integrity. In an Aug. 22 ruling, Judge Brendan Hurson (a Biden appointee) of the U.S. District Court for Maryland issued a stay of key provisions of a CMS final…
Rethinking rev cycle, plus the 2026 Medicare proposed rule on physician fee schedule
Mayank Pant from IKS Health talks about why healthcare organizations haven’t been able to overcome longstanding challenges, and Nick Hut talks with HFMA Policy Director Katie Gilfillan about the 2026 Medicare Proposed Rule on physician fee schedule.