Market access decides whether a product is paid for; this page covers how the system pays for care itself. It collects the regulatory updates HealthSignal tracks on hospital and provider payment systems, including prospective payment rules, diagnosis-related groups and tariffs, alongside facility licensing, care quality inspection regimes, service commissioning, and the regulation of health professionals. In the United States this is largely Medicare and Medicaid rulemaking from CMS; in Europe it is split across national payers and health ministries. Every item is drawn from official public bodies at the level of regulation, policy, and law.
CMS proposes electronic prior authorization requirements and interoperability standards for drug authorizations across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and exchange QHP issuers.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United Statesgematik publishes implementation guidance for KIM (secure messaging system) adoption in nursing and care facilities.
gematik (German Digital Health) · GermanyProposed rule updating physician fee schedule, Part B payment policies, drug inflation rebate program, quality payment program, and promoting interoperability program for 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS extend telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2026.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesNICE recommends offering pregnancy-specific artificial pancreas devices to pregnant or planning-pregnancy women with type 1 diabetes.
UK NICE · UKDEA and HHS postponed effective dates of final rules expanding buprenorphine telemedicine treatment and VA continuity-of-care telemedicine from February 18 to March 21, 2025, pending further policy review.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA extends temporary exceptions allowing telemedicine prescribing of controlled medications without prior in-person evaluation, pending final rulemaking.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesANS publishes guidance to help health facilities implement and scale secure messaging (MSSanté) across their operations.
ANS - French Digital Health Agency · FranceMHRA guidance on safe use of MRI equipment in clinical settings.
UK MHRA · UKCMS proposes 2027 home health payment rates, case-mix recalibration, quality reporting changes, and DMEPOS enrollment and benefit expansion updates.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesDEA finalizes regulations implementing the SUPPORT Act's expansion of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, including telehealth dispensing and practitioner qualification requirements.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS delayed the effective date of two final rules expanding buprenorphine telemedicine treatment and VA continuity of care via telemedicine from February 18 to March 21, 2025.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA proposes Special Registration framework for telemedicine practitioners to prescribe controlled substances without in-person evaluation, with heightened recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA and HHS amend regulations to permit practitioners to prescribe schedule III-V controlled substances for opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine, including initial six-month supplies after PDMP review.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA extends telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-medication prescribing through December 31, 2025.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA expands authorization for practitioners to prescribe schedule III-V narcotic drugs for maintenance and withdrawal management via telemedicine, including audio-only encounters.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesNICE conditionally recommends a lung preservation machine that keeps donated lungs viable outside the body, potentially enabling hundreds of additional transplants.
UK NICE · UKCMS and CDC seek public input on updating CLIA regulations covering breath testing, laboratory processes, emergency preparedness, biosafety, biosecurity, and cybersecurity.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS updates IRF prospective payment rates for FY 2027, finalizes rural adjustment phaseout, and establishes new therapy and interdisciplinary team meeting timelines.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesNewCMS updates hospice wage index, payment rates, aggregate cap, and quality reporting requirements for fiscal year 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesNewCMS issued final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient and long-term care hospital services for fiscal year 2027.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesCMS finalizes updates to SNF prospective payment rates, quality reporting requirements, and value-based purchasing program for FY 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS issued final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2027.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesProposed rule revises indirect hold harmless thresholds for health care-related taxes effective October 1, 2026 and 2027, implementing Working Families Tax Cut legislation.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS updates IPF prospective payment rates, outlier thresholds, wage index, and quality reporting measures for fiscal year 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS issued final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities for fiscal year 2027.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesCMS updates Medicare hospice payment rates, wage index, and quality reporting requirements for fiscal year 2027.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesCMS issued final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient psychiatric facilities for fiscal year 2027.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesNICE recommends an online therapy programme for people aged 16+ with eating disorders awaiting specialist NHS treatment.
UK NICE · UKFinal rule sets 2027 payment parameters, user fee rates for qualified health plans, risk adjustment standards, and provider access requirements for ACA exchanges.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS updates HCPCS codes on the Master List and the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery and Required Prior Authorization Lists.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesEuropean Parliament draft report proposing recommendations to the Commission for modernising rules governing patients' rights in cross-border healthcare within the EU.
European Parliament - SANT Subcommittee (Public Health) · EU-widePress Releases Jul 14, 2026 CMS Proposes Transformational Medicare Reforms to Expand Accountable Care, Modernize Physician Payment, and Shift from Sick Care to Healthcare CMS Proposes Transformational Medicare Reforms...
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesNICE recommends NHS adoption of a procedure that maintains donor liver oxygenation before transplant removal.
UK NICE · UKAmendment to Swedish regulations on mandatory reporting obligations to Socialstyrelsen's national patient register.
Socialstyrelsen - Föreskrifter (SE) · SwedenFinal rule strengthens Medicare oversight of accrediting organizations, addresses conflicts of interest, and updates validation and performance standards.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesFinal rule updates the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model for Performance Year 2 and includes a technical correction.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS establishes community engagement requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries as a condition of program eligibility.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS proposes to update ESRD prospective payment rates, AKI dialysis payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program requirements for calendar year 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS interim final rule implementing Medicaid community engagement requirement under SSA section 1902(xx), effective January 1, 2027, specifying eligibility conditions, qualifying activities, exceptions, and state reporting.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesVA practitioners may prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine to VA patients without prior in-person evaluation if another VA practitioner previously evaluated the patient.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesDEA issues interim rule amending regulations to implement the Ryan Haight Act's provisions preventing illegal Internet distribution of controlled substances.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesGuidance issued to help hospital systems prepare for health risks from extreme heat and increased emergency cases during heat waves.
Hungary NNGYK · HungaryGuidance on continuity of perinatal care between midwifery and health visiting services in England to ensure safe, high-quality family care.
UK DHSC · UKCMS proposes revisions to Medicare OPPS and ASC payment rates for 2027, expands prior authorization for Botulinum Toxin services, and requests information on standardizing hospital price transparency data.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesHHS seeks public input on whether safe harbor regulations under the anti-kickback statute and beneficiary inducements exceptions need modification for remuneration provided to clinical trial participants.
US Federal Register - HHS Rules · United StatesFinal rule revises Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Benefit, and cost plan regulations for Star Ratings, marketing, drug coverage, enrollment, and special needs plans.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United StatesCMS proposes to amend the indirect hold harmless threshold for health care-related taxes under Public Law 119-21.
US CMS Newsroom · United StatesDEA permits mobile components of registered narcotic treatment programs to operate as coincident activities without separate registration, enabling remote dispensing for maintenance and detoxification treatment.
US Federal Register - DEA Telehealth Rules · United StatesCMS proposes updates to SNF payment rates, quality reporting requirements, and value-based purchasing program for fiscal year 2027.
US Federal Register - CMS Rules · United States