On October 1 — the first day of the new federal fiscal year — PYA's Martie Ross and Kathy Reep provided a timely update on federal policy developments shaping healthcare. They reviewed the latest actions from Congress and federal agencies, focusing on issues that have a direct impact on providers and healthcare organizations.

Key topics for discussion included:

• Federal FY 2026 discretionary spending and government shutdown risk
• Calendar Year 2026 Medicare sequestration status
• Rural Health Transformation Program funding opportunity and deadlines
• Congressional hearings on tax-exempt hospitals
• New visa application fees and implications for healthcare