The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced more than $135 million in new funding opportunities to expand nutrition services and strengthen the rural health workforce. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., alongside HRSA Administrator Tom Engels and Representative Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), announced this important investment during a Preventative Care Roundtable with key stakeholders.
Read the press release about this forthcoming funding opportunity.
View the fiscal year 2026 Expanding Nutrition Services forecast on Grants.gov.
Source: HRSA
On April 3, the Trump Administration released its FY27 budget proposal, outlining funding priorities for the year ahead. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) proposal includes a request for a $19 million increase to support CHCs in expanding access to nutrition services. At the same time, several other health care programs are proposed to receive level funding, reductions, or be eliminated altogether.
Members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C. on April 13 to begin a series of hearings and votes on government funding. NACHC is collaborating with Primary Care Associations (PCAs) to ensure CHC policy priorities are well-represented. The next in-district work period is scheduled the week of Memorial Day from May 23-31.
Source: NACHC
On April 2, CMS finalized the annual Medicare Advantage/Part D rule for coverage year 2027. NACHC commented on the rule and its potential impact on CHCs and their patients in January. The final rule includes updates to STAR Ratings, changes to disclaimer requirements for third-party marketing organizations, and the elimination of the 48-hour scope of appointment waiting period. For more information, see CMS’s factsheet here. NACHC is currently reviewing the final rule and will circulate a summary about the impact to CHCs.
Source: NACHC
See the slides from the Wednesday, March 18, BPHC Program Updates webcast. Here are other highlights from the webcast:
Source: BPHC
HRSA has clarified guidance in the Health Center Program Site Visit Protocol (SVP) related to pharmacy dispensing fees. A pharmacy dispensing fee is generally considered an administrative or overhead cost. Therefore, it is not included on a health center’s fee schedule or sliding fee discount schedule.
Health centers may choose to charge patients a pharmacy dispensing fee, but they are not required to do so. Health centers may also choose to discount this fee.
This clarification has been added to the Site Visit Protocol in:
HRSA have informed site visit teams about this update. If you have questions about your upcoming Operational Site Visit, contact your Federal site visit representative. For general questions, use the BPHC Contact Form and select Policy > Site Visit Protocol General Inquiry.
Source: BPHC
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has finalized the “Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures” final rule (CMS-0053-F).
This groundbreaking final rule establishes the first-ever Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)-adopted standards for health care claims attachments, enabling the secure electronic submission of supporting clinical documentation for claims such as: medical records, x-rays and imaging, clinical notes, telemedicine visit documentation, and laboratory results.
The rule also establishes requirements for electronic signatures to ensure health care claims attachment transactions are secure, authenticated, and compliant with federal standards.
Read the Fact Sheet HERE.
Health care providers and payers should begin preparing to implement the finalized standards. This final rule is effective on May 26, 2026 (60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register). The compliance deadlines for all requirements in this rule are set for May 26, 2028 (24 months from the effective date of the final rule). Stakeholders are encouraged to review the rule and begin implementing the new standards promptly.
The recording and slides from the March 21, 2026 Town Hall on the Health Care Claims Attachments Final Rule are now available for download via this link.
Source: CMS
May 28th, 2026
10:00 AM PT // 1:00 PM ET
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