Department of Health and Human Services
Federal agency responsible for regulations under Department of Health and Human Services.
34 regulationsPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 and Basic Health Program
This regulation updates how health insurance plans will work and how much they'll cost for people in 2027 under the Affordable Care Act. It sets new rules for insurance benefits, premiums, and deductibles, and also adjusts a program that helps lower-income people afford coverage.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
This regulation ensures that programs and activities receiving federal funding cannot discriminate against people with disabilities. It sets standards for how organizations must provide equal access and reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who use their services.
Request for Information: Diagnostic Imaging Interoperability Standards and Certification
The federal government is asking for input on how medical imaging technology—like X-rays and CT scans—should be designed so that different hospitals and clinics can easily share patient images with each other. This matters because better sharing of medical images can help doctors provide faster, more coordinated care and prevent patients from having to repeat expensive tests.
Annual Civil Monetary Penalties Inflation Adjustment
The Department of Health and Human Services is adjusting the dollar amounts of fines and penalties it can impose each year to keep up with inflation. This means the financial punishments for breaking healthcare rules will increase slightly each year so they remain meaningful and fair as the cost of living rises.
Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule; Tribal Consultation
The federal government is proposing changes to how health insurance companies and healthcare providers handle and protect your private medical information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This proposal includes new requirements for consulting with Native American tribes to ensure their communities have a say in how their health data is protected.
Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
This regulation extends a temporary COVID-19 policy that allows doctors to prescribe certain controlled medications (like pain pills and ADHD drugs) through telemedicine without an in-person visit. The extension keeps this flexibility in place for patients who need ongoing treatment but may have difficulty getting to a doctor's office.
Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity
This proposed rule aims to remove regulatory barriers that prevent health technology companies and organizations from sharing patient health information more easily and quickly. The changes are intended to make it simpler for patients to access their medical records and for doctors to coordinate care across different healthcare providers.
Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability; Withdrawal
The Department of Health and Human Services is withdrawing a proposed rule that would have required hospitals, clinics, and health technology companies to make it easier for patients to access their medical records and share health information with other providers. This withdrawal means these data-sharing requirements will not go into effect.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
This federal rule ensures that organizations receiving government funding cannot discriminate against people with disabilities in their programs or services. It applies to hospitals, schools, social service agencies, and other institutions that accept federal money, requiring them to make reasonable accommodations so people with disabilities can access the same services as everyone else.
Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; Quality Reporting Programs; Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, etc.
This regulation updates how Medicare pays hospitals and surgical centers for outpatient procedures and sets new quality standards that hospitals must meet. The changes aim to improve the quality of care patients receive and make it easier for people to compare hospital performance through star ratings.
Standards of Conduct; Correction
The Department of Health and Human Services is making a correction to its Standards of Conduct rules, which set the ethical expectations and behavioral guidelines for HHS employees and contractors. This update ensures the rules are accurate and clear about what conduct is required or prohibited within the federal health agency.
Terminating National Institutes of Health Minority Biomedical Research Support Program and Rescinding the Program's Related Regulation
The federal government is ending the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, which provided funding and resources to help minorities and underrepresented groups pursue careers in medical research and science. This shutdown could reduce opportunities for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and other underrepresented groups to conduct health research and enter scientific fields.