MLN Connects for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Published 01/08/2026

MLN Connects® Newsletter for Thursday, January 8, 2026 [links-2.govdelivery.com]

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* Final Local Coverage Determinations for Certain Skin Substitutes Withdrawn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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