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This page provides basic information about being certified as a Medicare and/or Medicaid rural health clinic (RHC) provider and includes links to applicable laws, regulations, and compliance information. An RHC is a facility located in a rural area designated as a shortage area and is neither a rehabilitation agency nor a facility primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases. A clinic located on an island may be eligible to be certified as an RHC even though it does not have a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. (See §6213 of OBRA 1989.) The State Survey Agency reviews and evaluates the information on the Request to Establish Eligibility, Form CMS-29 and documents submitted with the request, and as necessary consults with the CMS Regional Office (RO) to obtain a determination whether the basic requirements discussed below are met. (The RO will seek the assistance of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in this matter.) These requirements are: The clinic must be located in a rural area that is designated as a shortage area. The physician(s) providing medical direction must be a member of the clinic’s staff or under agreement with the clinic to carry out the responsibilities required of a physician. A nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife must be available to furnish patient care services at least 50 percent of the time the clinic operates. A clinic may request a temporary waiver of these staffing requirements for a one-year period, if it demonstrates that it has been unable to hire a physician assistant, nurse-practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife in the previous 90-day period. A subsequent request for a waiver cannot be made less than 6 months after the expiration date of any previous waiver of staffing requirements for the facility.
Page Last Modified: 05/31/2006 2:00:00 PM
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