What is a Rural Health Clinic?
A Rural Health Clinic is a clinic certified to receive special Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. The purpose of the RHC program is improving access to primary care in underserved rural areas. RHCs are required to use a team approach of physicians and midlevel practitioners such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives to provide services. The clinic must be staffed at least 50% of the time with a midlevel practitioner.
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) were established by Public Law 95-210, the Rural Health Clinic Service Act, in 1977. The purpose of RHCs is to increase primary care services for Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural communities. RHCs ownership/governance structure can operate as public, private, or non-profit. The main requirements to obtain RHC status include: • Clinic is NOT located in an “Urbanized Area” as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. Clinic is Designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), or Medically Underserved Area (MUA), generally determined by information from the State Health Department. • The clinic must employ a mid-level practitioner at least 50% of the time the RHC operates. Examples include a physician assistant, certified nurse mid-wife, or nurse practitioner. • Must provide outpatient primary care. • Clinic must be under the medical direction of a physician who must be on site at least once every two wee
