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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  • Final Local Coverage Determinations for Certain Skin Substitutes Withdrawn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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