The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to implement section 71115 of Public Law 119-21, which places new limits on certain Medicaid provider taxes that states assess health care providers to help finance the state share of Medicaid.

Currently, 49 States and the District of Columbia have at least one health care-related tax.

Comment by September 21. 

Essential Community Providers (ECPs) are health care facilities that serve predominantly low-income and medically underserved individuals. Eligible providers include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program providers, Title X family planning providers, Indian health care providers, Critical Access Hospitals, and other providers that meet eligibility criteria established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Under federal Affordable Care Act Marketplace requirements, Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers must include a sufficient number and geographic distribution of ECPs in their provider networks. To support this requirement, CMS maintains the Essential Community Provider List, which issuers use to identify and contract with eligible providers.

Facilities that want to be included on the Final Plan Year 2028 ECP List should submit a new application or update an existing application by August 12, 2026. Existing ECPs are encouraged to complete the annual renewal process—even if no information has changed—to help ensure their information remains current and remain visible to Marketplace issuers seeking ECP network partners. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking input from the public on approaches to advance research and develop new interventions to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD).

Using publicly available data from the National Center for Health Statistics researchers found a higher burden of dementia risk factors for rural adults, with limited access to diagnosis and follow-up care than their urban and suburban counterparts.  In addition to individuals living with AD/ADRD, the Department wants to hear from caregivers, researchers, clinicians, service providers, advocates, faith- and community- based organizations, state, Tribal, and local officials, policymakers, and other interested stakeholders. 

Comment by August 15.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a notice is re-establishing a computer matching program with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to verify eligibility for minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The program allows CMS and State Administering Entities to use OPM health benefits data to determine eligibility for enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through the Marketplace, insurance affordability programs, exemptions, and eligibility renewals and appeals. OPM will provide CMS with monthly data on active federal employees and annual premium locality information to support Marketplace eligibility determinations.

The matching program is scheduled to take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and will remain in effect for an initial 18-month period, with an option to renew for one additional year if statutory requirements are met.

This proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), issued on July 14, 2026, seeks public comment on payment updates and policy changes to Medicare’s physician fee schedule payments, including the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

Proposals include an increase of the shared savings rate of level E of the BASIC track, changes to the regional adjustment methodology, a growth adjustment to incentivize new provider participation, and a new rural criterion for calculating advanced investment payments. There is also a proposal to allow Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to eliminate Medicare Part B cost sharing for beneficiaries. Comments on the proposed rule are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 14^, 2026 in the Federal Register.

Comment by September 14. 

With Pennie’s Open Enrollment period returning to November 1 through January 15, updated 2027 marketing materials are now available on the Pennie website.

Assisters can access a variety of resources, including fillable flyers in English and Spanish, waiting room flyers in 9 languages, social media content, Pennie talking points, and free printed materials that can be shipped directly to your location.

SNAP households may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits if food was destroyed because of an extended power outage caused by a natural disaster or severe weather event.

Recipients must complete and submit a form within 10 days of when the disaster occurred. Additionally, SUN Bucks, Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program, is a program that provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food while school is out. Benefits can be used at local participating retailers to purchase groceries. Most children are automatically eligible for the SUN Bucks Summer EBT program and do not need to apply to receive a benefit.

Patients can determine if their child is eligible for the SUN Bucks program using this Eligibility Navigator.

More information is available on the SNAP webpage, by visiting a local county assistance office or by calling the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.