Health System & Payment

Guidance: What the National Commission's recommendations mean for you

Guidance on implementing National Commission recommendations to improve safety, clarity and fairness in healthcare AI across the UK.

CLIA: Virtual Access, Gynecologic Cytology Proficiency Testing, Personnel Qualifications, and Other Changes — Proposed Rule

Proposed amendments to CLIA regulations to permit virtual access for laboratory testing data, digital images for cytology proficiency testing, and updated personnel and reporting requirements.

Prescription and dispensing capability as part of emergency preparedness

Citizens must be able to obtain prescribed medicines during prolonged crises or heightened alert; e-prescription and dispensing systems must function during disruptions.

NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool

Screening tool to identify individuals who may need referral for full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare eligibility.

Digital telecare commissioning guidelines: alarm receiving centres

Guidelines for commissioners and procurement teams on adult social care telecare services and alarm receiving centre operations.

Digital telecare commissioning guidelines: personal alarm devices

Guidelines for commissioners and procurement teams on adult social care telecare services and personal alarm device procurement.

Digital telecare commissioning guidelines: grouped living alarm devices

Guidelines for commissioners and procurement teams on telecare services for adult social care, focused on grouped living alarm devices.

Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications

DEA and HHS extend telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2026.

Patient portals, primary systems and ePA interoperability: position paper and recommendations

Guidance on integration of hospital patient portals with the electronic health record (ePA) and primary systems in downstream care settings, with process and care pathway recommendations.

Consultation on proposed legislation regulating healthcare providers' and regions' data reporting obligations to the Swedish eHealth Agency

The Swedish Government proposes new legislation requiring healthcare providers and regions to report data to the eHealth Agency; consultation period now open.

EHDS Full Implementation (Primary and Secondary Use)

EHDS infrastructure operational for patient care data exchange and research access; providers and EHR manufacturers must comply with interoperability requirements; fines up to €20M or 4% of turnover.

New impulse paper provides recommendations for cross-process digital transformation

Working group recommends criteria and priorities for digitising paper-based healthcare and care processes under the 'Gemeinsam Digital' strategy.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and Qualified Health Plans

Proposed requirements for electronic prior authorization for drugs and extended interoperability standards across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and QHP issuers.

Becoming a fully digitised care provider

Guidance on digital maturity standards for care providers and integration with CQC inspection and rating frameworks.

Digital social care records: choosing and implementing solutions

Guidance for adult social care providers on selection and implementation of digital social care records software systems.

Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations

DEA establishes Special Registration framework for telemedicine practitioners to prescribe controlled substances without in-person evaluation, with heightened recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications

DEA extends telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2025.

Telecare and the digital switchover: guidance for housing providers

Guidance for housing providers to safeguard telecare users during the digital phone switchover.

Outpatient psychotherapy: consultation reports to become more informative, digital transmission to be enabled

G-BA amends rules for outpatient psychotherapy consultation reports to improve content and enable digital transmission.

Checklist for the inspection of medical device vigilance in hospitals

Using AI in adult social care

Guidance on artificial intelligence implementation and best practice for adult social care providers.

Handling of medical devices intended for direct patient payment, not from public health insurance funds – Information update 8 June 2026

Guidance on handling medical devices in outpatient care settings when paid directly by patients rather than through public health insurance.

Commission action plan to protect the health sector from cyberattacks

EU action plan announced to strengthen cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers.

Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter and Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients — Effective Date Postponement

DEA and HHS postponed the effective dates of final rules expanding buprenorphine telemedicine treatment and VA continuity-of-care telemedicine from March 21 to a later date pending further review.

Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter and Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients — Effective Date Delayed to March 21, 2025

DEA and HHS delayed the effective date of two final rules on buprenorphine telemedicine and VA continuity of care from February 18 to March 21, 2025.

Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter

DEA and HHS amend regulations to permit audio-only telemedicine prescribing of schedule III-V controlled substances for opioid use disorder after PDMP review.

Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications

DEA extends temporary exceptions allowing telemedicine prescribing of controlled medications without prior in-person evaluation beyond November 11, 2023.

Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications

DEA extends temporary exceptions to controlled-medication prescribing rules to permit telemedicine without prior in-person evaluation pending final rulemaking.

Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation

DEA proposes rule permitting telehealth prescribing of controlled medications without prior in-person evaluation in limited circumstances.

Medicare Program; Implementation of Sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

Proposed rule implementing Medicare Part D cost-sharing reductions, provider directory accuracy requirements, and pharmacy benefit manager accountability measures.

Mammography screening expanded to women aged 45–49 years – G-BA updates early detection programme

G-BA expands the statutory mammography screening programme to include women aged 45–49 years.

Transparency in Coverage Final Rules (CMS 9882-F)

Final rule establishing transparency requirements for healthcare pricing information to patients, implementing Executive Order 14221.

New Regulations Make It Easier to Find, Compare, and Report Healthcare Pricing and Coverage Information

CMS announced new regulations to improve access to reliable, accessible healthcare pricing and coverage information.

Socialstyrelsen Regulations HSLF-FS 2026:27: Amendment to reporting obligations to the National Patient Register

Amendment to Socialstyrelsen's regulations on mandatory reporting obligations to the Swedish National Patient Register.

Choosing and managing software and IT suppliers as an adult social care provider

Guidance for adult social care providers on selecting and managing software and IT suppliers for their organisations.

Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification Proposed Rule (CMS 9873-P)

CMS proposes a rule on pre-eligibility verification for health insurance exchanges to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients

VA practitioners may prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine to VA patients without prior in-person evaluation if another VA practitioner previously evaluated the patient.

Expansion of Induction of Buprenorphine via Telemedicine Encounter

DEA amends regulations to expand authorization for practitioners to prescribe schedule III-V narcotic drugs for maintenance or withdrawal management via telemedicine, including audio-only encounters.

Registration Requirements for Narcotic Treatment Programs With Mobile Components

DEA permits mobile components of registered narcotic treatment programs to dispense controlled substances at remote locations without separate registration.

Using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans for non-medical purposes as a justified practice

Consultation on potential use of DEXA scans outside healthcare pathways, seeking stakeholder views on regulatory justification.

Care Act 2014: supporting implementation

Support for local authorities to carry out the implementation for part 1 of the Care Act 2014.

CMS Finalizes Rule to Help More Organs Reach Patients and Strengthen Accountability for Organ Procurement Organizations

CMS finalized a rule to increase organ availability and strengthen accountability for organ procurement organizations.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Organ Procurement Organizations Conditions for Coverage: Revisions to the Conditions for Coverage, Final Rule (CMS 3409-F)

CMS published a final rule revising conditions for coverage for organ procurement organizations under Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare Program; CY 2027 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Dialysis Payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program

CMS updates ESRD prospective payment rates, AKI dialysis payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program requirements for calendar year 2027.

Ordering and retaining medical certificates of cause of death (MCCDs)

Guidance for healthcare providers on ordering and managing medical certificates of cause of death.

Calendar Year 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Final Rule

CMS sets prospective payment rates and policies for ESRD dialysis services in calendar year 2027.

Amendment to Long-term Care Act enabling family members to request intensive care on behalf of vulnerable persons, effective 1 January 2027

From 1 January 2027, family members may sign applications for intensive long-term care under the Long-term Care Act on behalf of persons unable to request care themselves.

NHS continuing healthcare checklist

Screening tool to identify individuals who may need referral for NHS continuing healthcare eligibility assessment.

Medicare Program; Implementation of Sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

CMS proposed rule implementing Medicare provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026.

Fimea updates regulation on financial data collection from pharmacies and quality control fees

Fimea updates its regulation on financial data collection from pharmacies and quality control fee requirements.