Rural Health Clinics

Rural Health Clinics

Rural health clinics (RHC) is a Medicare certification program designed to increase access to quality care for rural residents by utilizing nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) under the medical direction of a physician. The clinic must be located in a non-urbanized and designated or certified shortage area. RHCs must employ a NP or PA, and have a NP, PA, or Certified Nurse-Midwife working at the clinic at least 50% of its operating hours. Additional requirements can be found below under Regulations/Guidance.

There are two types of rural health clinics. The independent rural health clinic is a freestanding practice that is not part of a hospital, skilled nursing facility or home health agency. The provider based rural health clinic is an integral and subordinate part of a hospital, skilled nursing facility or home health agency.

Notices/Updates

None at this time

License/Certification Requirements

Application for Medicare certification includes submission of a completed application, required documentation, and successful completion of a survey. Some rural health clinics may require licensure or exemption from licensure as a "health care clinic". Additional information regarding health care clinics can be obtained from the Agency's Health
Care Clinics webpage.

Unless required by the "Health Care Clinic Act",
there are no state licensing requirements imposed by the Agency.

Regulations/Guidance

• 42 CFR, Part 491 Subpart A, Sections 491.1 -.12
• CMS State Operations Manual[ ] (See Sections 2240-2249)
• Guidance to Surveyors - Appendix G[ ]

Forms

• Applicant Instructions [ 159.2 kB ]
• Verification of Clinic Data Rural Health Clinic Program - Form CMS-29 [ 119.9 kB ]
• CMS Admin Info: 13-16-RHC Regarding Revised Form CMS-29 [ 345.2 kB ]
• Health Insurance Benefits Agreement Form 1561A [ 8.6 kB ]

Civil Rights Requirements

Rural Health Clinics that are provider-based must answer all questions and submit the Assurance of Compliance online to the Office of Civil Rights. Rural Health Clinics that are not provider-based are not subject to civil rights clearance. Click here for more information on Civil Rights Requirements.

Accreditation

Rural health clinics accredited by an accrediting organization approved by CMS may be exempt from initial and recertification inspections by the Agency for Health Care Administration. A copy of the accreditation award letter and the complete accreditation report, including any corrective actions must be submitted to the Agency for review. If the accrediting organization does not include it in the award letter, verification of Medicare deemed status must also be submitted.