January 8, 2026
MLN Connects® Newsletter for Thursday, January 8, 2026
News
- CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States
- CMS Announces Establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation
- New CMS LEAD Model Aims to Expand Access to Accountable Care, Improve Health Outcomes
- CMS Proposed Model Test Would Lower Certain Medicare Part B Prescription Drugs
- CMS Proposed Model Test Would Lower Drugs Costs for Medicare Part D
- CMS BALANCE Model Aims to Expand Access to GLP-1 Medications for People with Medicare Part D & Medicaid
- Transparency in Coverage Proposed Rule
- Final Local Coverage Determinations for Certain Skin Substitutes Withdrawn
- Physicians & Non-Physicians: Comment on Medicare Enrollment Application by February 17
- Hospitals: Submit Data for OPPS Drug Acquisition Cost Survey by March 31
- Hospitals: Apply for Additional Residency Positions by March 31
- Medicare-Funded Physician Residency Positions Awarded
- Health Professional Shortage Area: CY 2026 Bonus Payments
- Ambulance Fee Schedule: CY 2026 Inflation Factor
- Doctors & Clinicians: CY 2023 Performance Information
- Information for Critical Access Hospitals
Claims, Pricers & Codes
- ICD-10-PCS: CMS Announces 80 New Codes, Effective April 1
- Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files & Revisions: January Update
- National Correct Coding Initiative: January Update
- Updated ICD-10 Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group Version 43.1
Events
- 2026 CMS Burden Reduction Conference – February 25
MLN Matters® Articles
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation for Heart Failure
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Billing Instructions: Medicare Claims Processing Manual Update
- DMEPOS Fee Schedule: CY 2026 Update
- ESRD & Acute Kidney Injury Dialysis: CY 2026 Update
- National Coverage Determination 20.40: Renal Denervation for Uncontrolled Hypertension
- Laboratory National Coverage Determination Edit Software: January 2026 Update
- Payment for Medicare Part B Preventive Vaccines & Their Administration for Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers – Revised
Publications & Multimedia
- Medicare Provider Enrollment – Revised

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