Ringing in the New Year with CMS

The Friday Five for January 9, 2026: Rural Health Transformation Program Allocations Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (BALANCE) Model Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Health Care Prices      Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to [email protected] or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Rural Health Transformation Program Allocations: “CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 29 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-50-billion-awards-strengthen-rural-health-all-50-states. “CMS Announces Establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 29 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-establishment-office-rural-health-transformation. “CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 15 Sep. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-landmark-50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program.   Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model: “CMS Proposes New Mandatory GUARD Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 21 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-mandatory-guard-model. “GUARD (Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs) Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guard. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026. Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government,  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23705/guarding-us-medicare-against-rising-drug-costs-guard-model. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.   Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model: “CMS Proposes New Mandatory GLOBE Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 21 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-mandatory-globe-model. “Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23702/global-benchmark-for-efficient-drug-pricing-globe-model. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026. “GLOBE (Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing) Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/globe. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.   Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (BALANCE) Model: “BALANCE (Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth) Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/balance. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026. “CMS Launches Voluntary Model to Expand Access to Life-Changing Medicines, Promote Healthier Living.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 23 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-voluntary-model-expand-access-life-changing-medicines-promote-healthier-living. How the BALANCE Model Will Help Medicare Part D & Medicaid Enrollees Access GLP-1s Minemyer, Paige. “CMS Launching Payment Model to Boost Access to GLP-1s in Medicaid, Part D.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 24 Dec. 2025, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-launching-payment-model-boost-access-glp-1s-medicaid-part-d.   Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Health Care Prices: Minemyer, Paige. “CMS Proposes Updates to Price Transparency Regs to Make Data More Accessible, Usable.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 19 Dec. 2025, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-proposes-updates-price-transparency-regs-make-data-more-accessible-usable. “Transparency in Coverage.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23693/transparency-in-coverage. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026. “Transparency in Coverage Proposed Rule (CMS 9882-P).” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 19 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/transparency-coverage-proposed-rule-cms-9882-p “Trump Administration Proposes Significant Updates to Disclosure Requirements to Make Health Care Prices Clear, Accurate, and Actionable for Americans.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 19 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-proposes-significant-updates-disclosure-requirements-make-health-care-prices   Follow Us on Social! 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