To keep or become eligible for SNAP benefits, some people must meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours a week (or 80 hours each month) AND report that they are meeting these work requirements. If requirements are not met, recipients will only be able to receive SNAP for three months within a three-year period.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has launched a new online screening tool to determine if recipients are required to meet SNAP work requirements. Recipients can apply for an exemption using the PA-1921 form.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), jointly with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced a fourth extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2026. This extension ensures that patients who rely on telehealth – including seniors, rural residents, and people with disabilities – can continue accessing care. The extension provides time to finalize permanent regulations and ensures a smooth transition for patients and providers.

On December 30, the District Court of Maine issued a Preliminary Injunction (PI) blocking implementation of the 340B rebate pilot. On January 7, the First Circuit (aka Appeals) Court upheld the lower court decision blocking HHS from implementing the 340B rebate pilot as planned this month. The Court’s three-member panel unanimously rejected HHS’ request to immediately overturn the Preliminary Injunction issued by the District Court of Maine.

In its order, the First Circuit concluded that HHS had “failed to carry its burden” of showing it was likely to succeed on the merits of its appeal. The First Circuit also ordered an expedited briefing schedule, saying it “intends to resolve the appeal without undue delay.” Per 340B Report, this means the First Circuit will rule on the full merits of HHS’ appeal before sending it back to the Maine district court for further proceedings.

See these links for Summary of Key Points from the initial court order. These include the reasons why the judge thinks the plaintiffs has a “substantial likelihood” of winning their case, and some general background on PIs.

From Becker’s Hospital Review

CMS introduced several new care and payment models in 2025, many focused on drug pricing, chronic disease management and prevention:

1. CMS published plans Dec. 23 for its voluntary “Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth” — or BALANCE — model. Under the model, CMS will negotiate reduced prices with GLP-1 manufacturers for state Medicaid programs and Medicare Part D plans. Eligible manufacturers must have a product that is any combination of GIP, GLP‐1 and glucagon receptor agonist with an FDA-approved active ingredient for weight management. The drug must be proven to reduce body weight by at least 10% on average.

2 and 3. CMS on Dec. 19 proposed two new models aimed at curbing Medicare drug spending by linking payments to international benchmarks. The GUARD model applies to prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D, while GLOBE targets drugs reimbursed under Medicare Part B, such as injectables administered in physician offices. Both models would benchmark U.S. Medicare payments to prices paid in economically comparable countries, aiming to reduce inflated domestic costs for high-expenditure drugs.

4. CMS on Dec. 11 unveiled the “Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence,” or Elevate, model, a voluntary initiative that will fund up to 30 chronic disease prevention and health promotion pilot projects aimed at integrating lifestyle and evidence-based functional medicine into original Medicare. The model will test interventions like physical activity, nutrition and other wellness-focused strategies that are not currently covered by Medicare, with the goal of slowing or preventing chronic disease. Organizations that participate will receive around $3 million over three years to collect cost, quality and health outcome data.

5. On Oct. 31, CMS finalized a new Ambulatory Specialty Model, a mandatory payment model focused on specialty care for beneficiaries with heart failure and low back pain. The program is set to begin in 2027 and will run through 2031.

6. CMS plans to launch the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model on Jul 1, 2026. ACCESS will test whether tying payments to clinical outcomes can expand the use of digital tools in chronic disease management. The model targets conditions common among Medicare beneficiaries, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression. Participants will receive recurring payments to manage patients’ conditions, with payment tied to achieving specific health outcomes.

From Becker’s Hospital Review

CMS has formally established the Office of Rural Health Transformation within the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, creating a permanent home for the federal government’s $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program.

The move follows the launch of the program earlier this year under President Donald Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation and comes as CMS begins distributing funding to all 50 states. The five-year initiative is one of the largest federal investments ever aimed at stabilizing and modernizing rural healthcare delivery.

CMS said the new office is designed to strengthen oversight, coordination and accountability as states begin implementing ambitious plans to expand access, modernize infrastructure and support rural providers through Sept. 30, 2031.

Eight things to know:

1. The office will oversee a $50B, five-year rural health initiative. The Office of Rural Health Transformation will continue leading implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program, which allocates $50 billion from 2026 through 2030 to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to care nationwide. The office sits within the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, signaling CMS’ intent to closely align rural health transformation with Medicaid policy, state partnerships and delivery system reform.
2. All 50 states have been approved for funding. CMS announced Dec. 29 that every state will receive awards under the program. First-year funding in 2026 averages about $200 million per state, with awards ranging from roughly $147 million to $281 million. Each state will be assigned a CMS project officer. States must submit yearly progress reports, and CMS will convene an annual rural health summit beginning in 2026 to share best practices.
3. Funding flows to states, not directly to hospitals. Unlike past relief programs, funds are distributed to states, which design and implement rural health transformation plans subject to CMS approval. States are not required to direct dollars specifically to rural hospitals.
4. Half of the funding is distributed equally. Fifty percent of the $50 billion is divided evenly among approved states, providing a baseline level of funding regardless of state size or rural population, according to CMS. The other 50% is distributed based on metrics such as rurality, health system needs and the scale and potential impact of state proposals, as outlined in the notice of funding opportunity.
5. Investments target workforce, infrastructure and care delivery. State plans focus on strengthening the rural clinical workforce, modernizing facilities and technology, expanding telehealth and remote monitoring, improving emergency services and testing new primary care and value-based models. CMS said many states are deploying evidence-based, outcomes-driven strategies — such as physical fitness and nutrition programs, food-as-medicine initiatives and chronic disease prevention models — to address the root causes of illness and better manage chronic conditions.
6. Investments also aim to strengthen rural emergency care through improved emergency medical services communication, expanded treat-in-place options and better coordination for patient transfers. In addition, states plan to modernize rural facilities and equipment, bolster cybersecurity and interoperability and adopt digital tools — including AI scribes and clinical workflow technologies — to reduce administrative burden and support clinicians.
7. ORHT will provide technical assistance and federal coordination. The office will guide states through implementation, provide technical assistance, coordinate federal and state partnerships and assign CMS project officers to each state. States must submit regular progress updates, allowing CMS to track performance, identify best practices and intervene when implementation challenges arise over the five-year program.
8. CMS is positioning the office for long-term transformation. By formally establishing ORHT, CMS aims to create lasting infrastructure for rural health policy beyond the life of the program. States will convene annually at a CMS Rural Health Summit to share lessons learned and accelerate innovation across regions.
9. Policy experts raise concerns. Despite the program’s $50 billion headline investment, policy experts and rural hospital leaders have raised concerns about whether the program will deliver meaningful benefits to rural providers, according to a study published July 23 in Health Affairs. Because funds flow to states, which are not required to allocate dollars to rural hospitals, critics worry money could be diverted to broader initiatives, vendors or administrative efforts with limited on-the-ground impact.

The program also grants the CMS administrator broad discretion over half of the funding and does not tie continued payments to performance or rural health outcomes. Compounding those concerns, the five-year program coincides with permanent Medicaid cuts expected to disproportionately affect rural areas, while tight timelines and potential clawbacks could limit states’ ability to plan and execute effective, provider-focused investments.