Medicare beneficiaries who live in rural and underserved areas would be able to continue to get their healthcare services from rural health clinics (RHCs) whose services are tailored to meet their individual needs under new rules proposed June 26 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The proposed regulation would require RHCs to establish quality assessment and performance improvement programs. It would also establish location requirements necessary for a clinic to continue to participate as an RHC, which would ensure that the RHC program kept pace with demographic changes in the service areas and best met the needs of underserved beneficiaries.
Many changes in the proposed rule, such as revisions to the payment methodology, would also apply to federally qualified health centers. Comments are due by Aug. 27, 2008. Download the proposed rule.
