Description

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

    

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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

 

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