MLN Connects® Newsletter for Thursday, October 1, 2026

News

• Arkansas: $54.6M to Fight Chronic Disease, Expand Maternal Health Care Services & Build the Rural Health Workforce
• Colorado: $169.6M to Expand Specialty Care, Strengthen Emergency Services & Bring Lifesaving Blood Transfusions Closer to Patients
• Delaware: Nearly $23M to Modernize Rural Health Centers, Expand Mobile Care & Make It Easier to Manage Chronic Disease
• Montana: $8.7M for New Ambulances & Lifesaving Medical Equipment Upgrades
• South Dakota: $13M Investment to Expand Behavioral Health Care & Create a 24/7 Mobile Crisis Response Service
• Texas: $51M for Nutrition & Chronic Disease Prevention Programs
• Medicare Advantage & Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027
• Laboratory Testing: Medicare Denies Duplicate Tests
• Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals: Download Your Q2 FY 2026 PEPPER
• CMS Refocuses Medicaid Quality on Health Outcomes, Launches Innovative Partnership With 37 States

Claims, Pricers & Codes

• Hospices: Initial Implementation of the Mandatory Election Statement Addendum
• Acute Hospital Care at Home: Code Correctly for Telehealth Place of Service

MLN Matters® Articles

• Laboratory National Coverage Determination Edit Software: January 2027 Update

Information for Patients

• 2027 Medicare & You Handbook