Laboratories: Paper Fee Coupons & CLIA Certificates Ending March 1 

January 26, 2026

CMS is improving the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program by switching to electronic fee coupons and CLIA certificates. After March 1, 2026, paper fee coupons and CLIA certificates will no longer be available; we’ll stop mailing paper versions after this date. In addition, you must pay your CLIA certification and survey fees online; checks will no longer be accepted.

This is the last chance for eligible laboratories and providers that perform laboratory testing to sign up for CMS email notifications to receive electronic CLIA fee coupons and certificates. Failure to switch may result in billing and certification issues.

You can switch to electronic notifications from CMS or update your email address by:

  • Emailing your state agency (PDF)
  • Contacting your Accreditation Organization if you’re an accredited laboratory

Note: This doesn’t apply to CLIA-exempt states.

Providers & Suppliers: CMS Has Authority to Conduct Enrollment Site Visits 

CMS conducts authorized enrollment site visits to verify operational status. Site visit inspectors carry a photo ID and CMS-issued letter of authorization that you may review but not retain or copy.

Starting January 3, 2026, 2 new site verification service contractors will conduct these visits:

  1. East: Arch Systems, LLC
  2. West: Signature Consulting Group

Until February 14, 2026, outgoing contractors may continue performing site visits:

  • East: Palmetto GBA and its subcontractors:
    • Overland Solutions, Inc., an affiliate of EXL
    • Information Discovery Services
    • Compliance Review, Inc.
    • National Creditors Connection, Inc.
  • West: Deloitte Consulting, LLP and its subcontractors:
    • Nationwide Management Services, Inc.
    • CSI Companies, Inc.
    • Arthur Lawrence Management, LLC
    • Computer Evidence Specialists, LLC
Medicare Extends Medical Telehealth Billing

Medicare has extended medical telehealth billing for RHCs using CPT code G2025 through December 31, 2026.  Effective January 1, 2026, Medicare has updated the virtual communication codes for RHCs, terming G0071 and replacing it with 3 codes: 98016, G2010 and...

read more
Provider enrollment application fee: CY 2026

December 18, 2025 Effective January 1, the application fee is $750 for institutional providers who are: Initially enrolling in the Medicare or Medicaid programs or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Revalidating their Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP enrollment...

read more
16 October, 2025 06:57

Dear RHC Community, We need your help! As many of you know, Congress failed to extend Medicare medical telehealth coverage by September 30, so these flexibilities have lapsed. While our top priority is to reinstate these critical flexibilities, we are simultaneously...

read more
12 September, 2025 10:17

In the final week before passing the H.R.1, Congress created a $50 billion dollar fund to “transform” rural health. In each of the next 5 years, $10 billion will flow to the states to help them implement a “rural health transformation plan” but details are scant as to...

read more
10 September, 2025 08:33

NARHC is thrilled to announce the introduction of three new bills to strengthen and modernize the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) program: the Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act (H.R.5199), Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization...

read more
5 August, 2025 16:04

Attention Texas Medicaid Providers! It is critical to know when your revalidation with TMHP is due. Let us take care of this and all your credentialing needs - contact us today! The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is requiring assistance from MCOs to...

read more
13 May, 2025 16:02

Trump’s First 100 Days and What’s to Come – Policy Updates for RHCs Health policy has been a much discussed topic since the Trump Administration’s second term and the 119th Congress began just a few months ago! Currently, Members of Congress are debating reforms to...

read more
25 November, 2024 15:50

Dear NARHC Members, Please join us on December 10 at 4 PM Eastern Time for our 2024 Annual Membership meeting. In this virtual meeting, our NARHC Executive Committee (President Mandy Shelast, Vice President Shannon Chambers, and Secretary/Treasurer Denise Schentrup)...

read more
7 November, 2024 21:16

NARHC has been engaging with CMS over the last year in an attempt to resolve the CPT Category II code issue for RHCs, including through a letter to the CMS Administrator. We are very pleased to report that CMS recently issued a CMS Change Request to allow Category II...

read more
5 November, 2024 15:38

Dear RHC Community, On November 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the CY 2025Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule. NARHC is very pleased to report that the rule finalizes several Rural Health Clinic (RHC) specific policy...

read more