Comment on CMS-2026-1454-0001

Summary: The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) opposes transitioning from in-person surveys to a self-attestation process for rural health clinics (RHCs), arguing that in-person surveys are a critical tool for accountability and patient safety. Instead of removing these surveys, the NRHA suggests that CMS should focus on reducing administrative burdens through specific regulatory clarifications regarding behavioral health, telehealth payment parity, and scope of practice rules.