Key Regulation for RHCs

(a) Scope. This subpart establishes the requirements for coverage and reimbursement of rural health clinic and Federally qualified health center services under Medicare.

(b) Definitions. As used in this subpart, unless the context indicates otherwise:

Allowable costs means costs that are incurred by a RHC or FQHC that is authorized to bill based on reasonable costs and are reasonable in amount and proper and necessary for the efficient delivery of RHC and FQHC services.

Beneficiary means an individual enrolled in the Supplementary Medical Insurance program for the Aged and Disabled (part of title XVIII of the Act).

Certified nurse midwife (CNM) means an individual who meets the applicable education, training, and other requirements of §410.77(a) of this chapter.

Clinical psychologist (CP) means an individual who meets the applicable education, training, and other requirements of §410.71(d) of this chapter.

Clinical social worker (CSW) means an individual who meets the applicable education, training, and other requirements of §410.73(a) of this chapter.

CMS stands for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Coinsurance means that portion of the RHC's charge for covered services or that portion of the FQHC's charge or PPS rate for covered services for which the beneficiary is liable (in addition to the deductible, where applicable).

Covered services means items or services for which the beneficiary is entitled to have payment made on his or her behalf under this subpart.

Deductible means the amount incurred by the beneficiary during a calendar year as specified in §410.160 and §410.161 of this chapter.

Employee means any individual who, under the common law rules that apply in determining the employer-employee relationship (as applied for purposes of section 3121(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), is considered to be employed by, or an employee of, an entity. (Application of these common law rules is discussed in 20 CFR 404.1007 and 26 CFR 31.3121(d)-1(c).)

Federally qualified health center (FQHC) means an entity that has entered into an agreement with CMS to meet Medicare program requirements under §405.2434 and—

(1) Is receiving a grant under section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, or is receiving funding from such a grant under a contract with the recipient of such a grant and meets the requirements to receive a grant under section 330 of the PHS Act;
(2) Is determined by the HRSA to meet the requirements for receiving such a grant;
(3) Was treated by CMS, for purposes of Medicare Part B, as a comprehensive federally funded health center as of January 1, 1990; or
(4) Is an outpatient health program or facility operated by a tribe or tribal organizations under the Indian Self-Determination Act or by an Urban Indian organization receiving funds under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

HRSA means the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Marriage and family therapist (MFT) means an individual who meets the applicable education, training, and other requirements of § 410.53 of this chapter.

Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) means an organization that has a contract with the Secretary to administer the benefits covered by this subpart as described in §421.404 of this chapter.

Mental health counselor (MHC) means an individual who meets the applicable education, training, and other requirements of § 410.54 of this chapter.

Nurse practitioner (NP) means individuals who meet the applicable education, training, and other requirements of §410.75(b) of this chapter.

Physician assistant (PA) means an individual who meet the applicable education, training, and other requirements of §410.74(c) of this chapter.

Prospective payment system (PPS) means a method of payment in which Medicare payment is made based on a predetermined, fixed amount.

Reporting period generally means a period of 12 consecutive months specified by the MAC as the period for which a RHC or FQHC must report required costs and utilization information. The first and last reporting periods may be less than 12 months.

Rural health clinic (RHC) means a facility that has—

(1) Been determined by the Secretary to meet the requirements of section 1861(aa)(2) of the Act and part 491 of this chapter concerning RHC services and conditions for approval; and
(2) Filed an agreement with CMS that meets the requirements in §405.2402 to provide RHC services under Medicare.

Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his or her delegate.

Visiting nurse services means part-time or intermittent nursing care and related medical supplies (other than drugs or biologicals) furnished by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse to a homebound patient.

§405.2402 Rural health clinic basic requirements.

(a) Certification by the State survey agency. The rural health clinic must be certified in accordance with part 491 of this chapter.

(b) Acceptance of the clinic as qualified to furnish RHC services. If the Secretary, after reviewing the survey agency or accrediting organization recommendation, as applicable, and other evidence relating to the qualifications of the clinic, determines that the clinic meets the requirements of this subpart and of part 491 of this chapter, the clinic is provided with—

(1) Written notice of the determination; and
(2) Two copies of the agreement to be filed as required by section 1861(aa)(1) of the Act.

(c) Filing of agreement by the clinic. If the clinic wishes to participate in the program, it must—

(1) Have both copies of the agreement signed by an authorized representative; and
(2) File them with the Secretary.

(d) Acceptance by the Secretary. If the Secretary accepts the agreement filed by the clinic, the Secretary returns to the clinic one copy of the agreement with a notice of acceptance specifying the effective date.

(e) Appeal rights. If CMS declines to enter into an agreement or if CMS terminates an agreement, the clinic is entitled to a hearing in accordance with §498.3(b)(5) and (6) of this chapter.

§405.2403 Rural health clinic content and terms of the agreement with the Secretary.

(a) Under the agreement, the RHC agrees to the following:

(1) Maintaining compliance with conditions. The RHC agrees to maintain compliance with the conditions set forth in part 491 of this chapter and to report promptly to CMS any failure to do so.
(2) Charges to beneficiaries. The RHC agrees not to charge the beneficiary or any other person for items and services for which the beneficiary is entitled to have payment made under the provisions of this part (or for which the beneficiary would have been entitled if the RHC had filed a request for payment in accordance with §410.165 of this chapter), except for any deductible or coinsurance amounts for which the beneficiary is liable under §405.2410.
(3) Refunds to beneficiaries.

(i) The RHC agrees to refund as promptly as possible any money incorrectly collected from beneficiaries or from someone on their behalf.
(ii) As used in this section, money incorrectly collected means sums collected in excess of the amount for which the beneficiary was liable under §405.2410. It includes amounts collected at a time when the beneficiary was believed not to be entitled to Medicare benefits but:

(A) The beneficiary is later determined to have been entitled to Medicare benefits; and
(B) The beneficiary's entitlement period falls within the time the RHC's agreement with the Secretary is in effect.

(4) Beneficiary treatment.

(i) The RHC agrees to accept beneficiaries for care and treatment; and
(ii) The RHC agrees not to impose any limitations on the acceptance of beneficiaries for care and treatment that it does not impose on all other persons.

(b) Additional provisions. The agreement may contain any additional provisions that the Secretary finds necessary or desirable for the efficient and effective administration of the Medicare program.

§405.2404 Termination of rural health clinic agreements.

(a) Termination by RHC -

(1) Notice to Secretary. If the RHC wishes to terminate its agreement it shall file with the Secretary a written notice stating the intended effective date of termination.

(2) Action by the Secretary.

(i) The Secretary may approve the date proposed by the RHC, or set a different date no later than 6 months after the date of the RHC's notice.
(ii) The Secretary may approve a date which is less than 6 months after the date of notice if the Secretary determines that termination on that date would not:

(A) Unduly disrupt the furnishing of services to the community serviced by the RHC; or
(B) Otherwise interfere with the effective and efficient administration of the Medicare program.

(3) Cessation of business. If a RHC ceases to furnish services to the community, the Secretary deems it to be a voluntary termination of the agreement by the RHC, effective on the last day of business.

(b) Termination by the Secretary -

(1) Cause for termination. The Secretary may terminate an agreement if he or she determines that the RHC:

(i) No longer meets the conditions for certification under part 491 of this chapter;
(ii) Is not in substantial compliance with the provisions of the agreement, the requirements of this subpart, any other applicable regulations of this part, or any applicable provisions of title XVIII of the Act; or
(iii) Has undergone a change of ownership.

(2) Notice of termination. The Secretary gives notice of termination to the RHC at least 15 days before the effective date stated in the notice.

(3) Appeal by the RHC. A RHC may appeal the termination of its agreement in accordance with the provisions set forth in part 498 of this chapter.

(c) Effect of termination. Payment will not be available for RHC services furnished on or after the effective date of termination.

(d) Notice to the public. Prompt notice of the date and effect of termination must be given to the public by either of the following:

(1) The RHC, after the Secretary has approved or set a termination date.
(2) The Secretary, when he or she has terminated the agreement.

(e) Conditions for reinstatement after termination of agreement by the Secretary. When an agreement with a RHC is terminated by the Secretary, the RHC may not file another agreement to participate in the Medicare program unless the Secretary:

(1) Finds that the reason for the termination of the prior agreement has been removed; and
(2) Is assured that the reason for the termination will not recur.

§405.2410 Application of Part B deductible and coinsurance.

(a) Application of deductible.

(1) Medicare payment for RHC services begins only after the beneficiary has incurred the deductible.
(2) Medicare payment for services covered under the FQHC benefit is not subject to the usual Part B deductible.

(b) Application of coinsurance. Except for preventive services for which Medicare pays 100 percent under §410.152(l) of this chapter, a beneficiary's responsibility is either of the following:

(1) For RHCs that are authorized to bill on the basis of the reasonable cost system -

(i) A coinsurance amount that does not exceed 20 percent of the RHC's reasonable customary charge for the covered service; and
(ii)

(A) The beneficiary's deductible and coinsurance amount for any one item or service furnished by the RHC may not exceed a reasonable amount customarily charged by the RHC for that particular item or service; or
(B) For any one item or service furnished by a FQHC, a coinsurance amount that does not exceed 20 percent of a reasonable customary charge by the FQHC for that particular item or service.

(2) For FQHCs authorized to bill under the PPS, a coinsurance amount which is 20 percent of the lesser of -

(i) The FQHC's actual charge; or
(ii) The FQHC PPS rate for the covered service.

§405.2411 Scope of benefits.

(a) The following RHC and FQHC services are reimbursable under this subpart:

(1) The physicians' services specified in §405.2412.
(2) Services and supplies furnished as an incident to a physician's professional service.
(3) The nurse practitioner or physician assistant services specified in §405.2414.
(4) Services and supplies furnished as incident to a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse midwife, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker service, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor.
(5) Visiting nurse services when provided in accordance with 1861(aa)(1) of the Act and §405.2416.
(6) Clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, and mental health counselor services as specified in §405.2450.

(b) RHC and FQHC services are—

(1) Covered when furnished in a RHC, FQHC, or other outpatient setting, including a patient's place of residence;
(2) Covered when furnished during a Part A stay in a skilled nursing facility only when provided by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse midwife, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor employed or under contract with the RHC or FQHC at the time the services are furnished; and
(3) Not covered in a -

(i) Hospital as defined in section 1861(e) of the Act; or
(ii) Critical access hospital as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Act.

§405.2412 Physicians' services.

Physicians' services are professional services that are furnished by either of the following:

(a) By a physician at the RHC or FQHC.

(b) Outside of the RHC or FQHC by a physician whose agreement with the RHC or FQHC provides that he or she will be paid by the RHC or FQHC for such services and certification and cost reporting requirements are met.

§405.2413 Services and supplies incident to a physician's services.

(a) Services and supplies incident to a physician's professional service are reimbursable under this subpart if the service or supply is:

(1) Of a type commonly furnished in physicians' offices;
(2) Of a type commonly rendered either without charge or included in the RHC's or FQHC's bill;
(3) Furnished as an incidental, although integral, part of a physician's professional services;
(4) Services and supplies must be furnished in accordance with applicable State law; and
(5) Furnished under the direct supervision of a physician, except that services and supplies furnished incident to Transitional Care Management, General Care Management, and the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model can be furnished under general supervision of a physician when these services or supplies are furnished by auxiliary personnel, as defined in §410.26(a)(1) of this chapter.

(b) Only drugs and biologicals which cannot be self-administered are included within the scope of this benefit.

§405.2414 Nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and certified nurse midwife services.

(a) Professional services are payable under this subpart if the services meet all of the following:

(1) Furnished by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse midwife who is employed by, or receives compensation from, the RHC or FQHC.
(2) Furnished under the medical supervision of a physician.
(3) Furnished in accordance with any medical orders for the care and treatment of a patient prepared by a physician.
(4) Are of a type which the nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife who furnished the service is legally permitted to perform by the State in which the service is rendered.
(5) The services would be covered if furnished by a physician.

(b) The physician supervision requirement is met if the conditions specified in §491.8(b) of this chapter and any pertinent requirements of State law are satisfied.

(c) The services of nurse practitioners, physician assistants or certified nurse midwives are not covered if State law or regulations require that the services be performed under a physician's order and no such order was prepared.

§405.2415 Incident to services and direct supervision.

(a) Services and supplies incident to a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse midwife, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor service are payable under this subpart if the service or supply is all of the following:

(1) Of a type commonly furnished in physicians' offices.
(2) Of a type commonly rendered either without charge or included in the RHC's or FQHC's bill.
(3) Furnished as an incidental, although integral part of professional services furnished by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse-midwife, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor.
(4) Furnished in accordance with applicable State law.
(5) Furnished under the direct supervision of a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife, except that services and supplies furnished incident to Transitional Care Management, General Care Management, and the Psychiatric Collaborative Care model can be furnished under general supervision of a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife, when these services or supplies are furnished by auxiliary personnel, as defined in §410.26(a)(1) of this chapter.

(b) The direct supervision requirement is met in the case of any of the following persons only if the person is permitted to supervise these services under the written policies governing the RHC or FQHC:

(1) Nurse practitioner.
(2) Physician assistant.
(3) Certified nurse-midwife.
(4) Clinical psychologist.
(5) Clinical social worker.
(6) Marriage and family therapist.
(7) Mental health counselor.

(c) Only drugs and biologicals which cannot be self-administered are included within the scope of this benefit.

§405.2416 Visiting nurse services.

(a) Visiting nurse services are covered if the services meet all of the following:

(1) The RHC or FQHC is located in an area in which the Secretary has determined that there is a shortage of home health agencies.
(2) The services are rendered to a homebound individual.
(3) The services are furnished by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse that is employed by, or receives compensation for the services from the RHC or FQHC.
(4) The services are furnished under a written plan of treatment that is both of the following:

(i)
(A) Established and reviewed at least every 60 days by a supervising physician of the RHC or FQHC; or
(B)(1) Established by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife; and
(2) Reviewed at least every 60 days by a supervising physician.

(ii) Signed by the supervising physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife of the RHC or FQHC.

(5) During a PHE, as defined in §400.200 of this chapter, an area typically served by the RHC, and an area that is included in the FQHC's service area plan, is determined to have a shortage of home health agencies, and no request for this determination is required.

(b) The nursing care covered by this section includes the following:

(1) Services that must be performed by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse if the safety of the patient is to be assured and the medically desired results achieved.
(2) Personal care services, to the extent covered under Medicare as home health services. These services include helping the patient to bathe, to get in and out of bed, to exercise and to take medications.

(c) This benefit does not cover household and housekeeping services or other services that would constitute custodial care.

(d) For purposes of this section, homebound means an individual who is permanently or temporarily confined to his or her place of residence because of a medical or health condition. The individual may be considered homebound if he or she leaves the place of residence infrequently. For this purpose, “place of residence” does not include a hospital or long term care facility.

§405.2417 Visiting nurse services: Determination of shortage of agencies.

A shortage of home health agencies exists if the Secretary determines that the RHC or FQHC:

(a) Is located in a county, parish, or similar geographic area in which there is no participating home health agency or adequate home health services are not available to patients of the RHC or FQHC.

(b) Has (or expects to have) patients whose permanent residences are not within the area serviced by a participating home health agency.

(c) Has (or expects to have) patients whose permanent residences are not within a reasonable traveling distance, based on climate and terrain, of a participating home health agency.

Payment for Rural Health Clinic and Federally Qualified Health Center Services

Source: 57 FR 24976, 24977, June 12, 1992, unless otherwise noted.

§405.2460 Applicability of general payment exclusions.

The payment conditions, limitations, and exclusions set out in subpart C of this part, part 410 and part 411 of this chapter are applicable to payment for services provided by RHCs and FQHCs, except that preventive primary services, as defined in §405.2448, are statutorily authorized for FQHCs and not excluded by the provisions of section 1862(a) of the Act.

§405.2462 Payment for RHC and FQHC services.

(a) Payment to provider-based RHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system. A RHC that is authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system is paid in accordance with parts 405 and 413 of this subchapter, as applicable, if the RHC is—

(1) An integral and subordinate part of a hospital, skilled nursing facility or home health agency participating in Medicare (that is, a provider of services); and
(2) Operated with other departments of the provider under common licensure, governance and professional supervision.

(b) Payment to independent RHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system.

(1) RHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system are paid on the basis of an all-inclusive rate for each beneficiary visit for covered services. This rate is determined by the MAC, in accordance with this subpart and general instructions issued by CMS.
(2) The amount payable by the MAC for a visit is determined in accordance with paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this section.

(c) Payment to FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the PPS. A FQHC that is authorized to bill under the PPS is paid a single, per diem rate based on the prospectively set rate for each beneficiary visit for covered services. Except as noted in paragraph (d) of this section, this rate is adjusted for the following:

(1) Geographic differences in cost based on the Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) in accordance with section 1848(e) of the Act and 42 CFR 414.2 and 414.26 are used to adjust payment under the physician fee schedule during the same period, limited to only the work and practice expense GPCIs.
(2) Furnishing of care to a beneficiary that is a new patient with respect to the FQHC, including all sites that are part of the FQHC. A new patient is one that has not been treated by the FQHC's organization within the previous 3 years.
(3) Furnishing of care to a beneficiary receiving a comprehensive initial Medicare visit (that is an initial preventive physical examination or an initial annual wellness visit) or a subsequent annual wellness visit.

(d) Payment to grandfathered tribal FQHCs.

(1) A “grandfathered tribal FQHC” is a FQHC that:

(i) Is operated by a tribe or tribal organization under the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act (ISDEAA);
(ii) Was billing as if it were provider-based to an IHS hospital on or before April 7, 2000; and
(iii) Is not operating as a provider-based department of an IHS hospital.

(2) A grandfathered tribal FQHC is paid at the Medicare outpatient per visit rate as set annually by the IHS.
(3) The payment rate is not adjusted:

(i) By the FQHC Geographic Adjustment Factor;
(ii) For new patients, annual wellness visits, or initial preventive physical examinations; or
(iii) Annually by the Medicare Economic Index or a FQHC PPS market basket.

(4) The payment rate is adjusted annually by the IHS under the authority of sections 321(a) and 322(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 248 and 249(b)), Pub. L. 83-568 (42 U.S.C. 2001(a)), and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

(e)

(1) Except for preventive services for which Medicare pays 100 percent under §410.152(l) of this chapter, Medicare pays -

(i) Eighty (80) percent of the lesser of the FQHC's actual charge or the PPS encounter rate for FQHCs authorized to bill under the PPS; or
(ii) Eighty (80) percent of the lesser of a grandfathered tribal FQHC's actual charge, or the outpatient rate for Medicare as set annually by the IHS for grandfathered tribal FQHCs that are authorized to bill at this rate.

(2) No deductible is applicable to FQHC services.

(f) For RHCs visits, payment is made in accordance with one of the following:

(1) If the deductible has been fully met by the beneficiary prior to the RHC visit, Medicare pays 80 percent of the all-inclusive rate.
(2) If the deductible has not been fully met by the beneficiary before the visit, and the amount of the RHC's reasonable customary charge for the services that is applied to the deductible is less than the all-inclusive rate, the amount applied to the deductible is subtracted from the all-inclusive rate and 80 percent of the remainder, if any, is paid to the RHC.
(3) If the deductible has not been fully met by the beneficiary before the visit, and the amount of the RHC's reasonable customary charge for the services that is applied to the deductible is equal to or exceeds the all-inclusive rate, no payment is made to the RHC.

(g) To receive payment, the RHC or FQHC must do all of the following:

(1) Furnish services in accordance with the requirements of subpart X of part 405 of this chapter and subpart A of part 491 of this chapter.
(2) File a request for payment on the form and manner prescribed by CMS.
(3)HCPCS coding. FQHCs and RHCs are required to submit HCPCS and other codes as required in reporting services furnished.

§405.2463 What constitutes a visit.

(a) Visit—General.

(1) For RHCs, a visit is either of the following:

(i) Face-to-face encounter between a RHC patient and one of the following:

(A) Physician.
(B) Physician assistant.
(C) Nurse practitioner.
(D) Certified nurse midwife.
(E) Visiting registered professional or licensed practical nurse.
(G) Clinical psychologist.
(H) Clinical social worker.
(I) Marriage and family therapist.
(J) Mental health counselor.

(ii) Qualified transitional care management service.

(2) For FQHCs, a visit is either of the following:

(i) A visit as described in paragraph (a)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section.

(ii) A face-to-face encounter between a patient and either of the following:

(A) A qualified provider of medical nutrition therapy services as defined in part 410, subpart G, of this chapter.

(B) A qualified provider of outpatient diabetes self-management training services as defined in part 410, subpart H, of this chapter.

(b) Visit—Medical.

(1) A medical visit is a face-to-face encounter between a RHC or FQHC patient and one of the following:

(i) Physician.
(ii) Physician assistant.
(iii) Nurse practitioner.
(iv) Certified nurse midwife.
(v) Visiting registered professional or licensed practical nurse.

(2) A medical visit for a FQHC patient may be either of the following:

(i) Medical nutrition therapy visit.
(ii) Diabetes outpatient self-management training visit.

(3) Visit—Mental health. A mental health visit is a face-to-face encounter or an encounter furnished using interactive, real-time, audio and video telecommunications technology or audioonly interactions in cases where the patient is not capable of, or does not consent to, the use of video technology for the purposes of diagnosis, evaluation or treatment of a mental health disorder, including an in-person mental health service, beginning January 1, 2025, furnished within 6 months prior to the furnishing of the telecommunications service and that an in-person mental health service (without the use of telecommunications technology) must be provided at least every 12 months while the beneficiary is receiving services furnished via telecommunications technology for diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of mental health disorders, unless, for a particular 12-month period, the physician or practitioner and patient agree that the risks and burdens outweigh the benefits associated with furnishing the in-person item or service, and the practitioner documents the reasons for this decision in the patient's medical record, between an RHC or FQHC patient and one of the following:

(i) Clinical psychologist.
(ii) Clinical social worker.
(iii) Marriage and family therapist.
(iv) Mental health counselor.
(v) Other RHC or FQHC practitioner, in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, for mental health services.

(c) Visit—Multiple.

(1) For RHCs and FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system, encounters with more than one health professional and multiple encounters with the same health professional that take place on the same day and at a single location constitute a single visit, except when the patient—

(i) Suffers an illness or injury subsequent to the first visit that requires additional diagnosis or treatment on the same day;
(ii) Has a medical visit and a mental health visit on the same day; or
(iii) Has an initial preventive physical exam visit and a separate medical or mental health visit on the same day.

(2) For RHCs and FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system, Medicare pays RHCs and FQHCs for more than 1 visit per day when the conditions in paragraph (c)(1) of this section are met.
(3) For FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system, Medicare pays for more than 1 visit per day when a DSMT or MNT visit is furnished on the same day as a visit described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section are met.
(4) For FQHCs billing under the PPS, and grandfathered tribal FQHCs that are authorized to bill as a FQHC at the outpatient per visit rate for Medicare as set annually by the Indian Health Service—

(i) Suffers an illness or injury subsequent to the first visit that requires additional diagnosis or treatment on the same day; or
(ii) Has a medical visit and a mental health visit on the same day.

§405.2464 Payment rate.

(a) Payment rate for RHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system.

(1) Except as specified in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, an RHC that is authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system is paid an all-inclusive rate that is determined by the MAC at the beginning of the cost reporting period.
(2) The rate is determined by dividing the estimated total allowable costs by estimated total visits for RHC services.
(3) The rate determination is subject to any tests of reasonableness that may be established in accordance with this subpart.
(4) The MAC, during each reporting period, periodically reviews the rate to assure that payments approximate actual allowable costs and visits and adjusts the rate if:

(i) There is a significant change in the utilization of services;
(ii) Actual allowable costs vary materially from allowable costs; or
(iii) Other circumstances arise which warrant an adjustment.

(5) The RHC may request the MAC to review the rate to determine whether adjustment is required.

(b) Payment rate for FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the prospective payment system.

(1) Except as specified in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, a per diem rate is calculated by CMS by dividing total FQHC costs by total FQHC daily encounters to establish an average per diem cost.

(2) The per diem rate is adjusted as follows:

(i) For geographic differences in the cost of inputs according to §405.2462(c)(1).
(ii) When the FQHC furnishes services to a new patient, as defined in §405.2462(c)(2).
(iii) When a beneficiary receives either of the following:

(A) A comprehensive initial Medicare visit (that is, an initial preventive physical examination or an initial annual wellness visit).
(B) A subsequent annual wellness visit.

(c) Payment for care management services. For chronic care management services furnished between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017, payment to RHCs and FQHCs is at the physician fee schedule national non-facility payment rate. For care management services furnished between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023, payment to RHCs and FQHCs is at the rate set for each of the RHC and FQHC payment codes for care management services. For general care management services furnished on or after January 1, 2024, the payment amount is based on a weighted average of the services that comprise HCPCS code G0511 using the most recently available PFS utilization data.
(d) Payment for FQHCs that are authorized to bill as grandfathered tribal FQHCs. Grandfathered tribal FQHCs are paid at the outpatient per visit rate for Medicare as set annually by the Indian Health Service for each beneficiary visit for covered services. There are no adjustments to this rate.(e) Payment for communication technology-based and remote evaluation services. For communication technology-based and remote evaluation services furnished on or after January 1, 2019, payment to RHCs and FQHCs is at the rate set for each of the RHC and FQHC payment codes for communication technology-based and remote evaluation services.

§405.2466 Annual reconciliation.

(a) General. Payments made to RHCs or FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system during a reporting period are subject to annual reconciliation to assure that those payments do not exceed or fall short of the allowable costs attributable to covered services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries during that period.

(b) Calculation of reconciliation for RHCs or FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system.

(1) The total reimbursement amount due the RHC or FQHC for covered services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries is based on the report specified in §405.2470(c)(2) and is calculated by the MAC as follows:

(i) The average cost per visit is calculated by dividing the total allowable cost incurred for the reporting period by total visits for RHC or FQHC services furnished during the period. The average cost per visit is subject to tests of reasonableness which may be established in accordance with this subpart.
(ii) The total cost of RHC or FQHC services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries is calculated by multiplying the average cost per visit by the number of visits for covered RHC or FQHC services by beneficiaries.
(iii) The total payment due the RHC is 80 percent of the amount calculated by subtracting the amount of deductible incurred by beneficiaries that is attributable to RHC services from the cost of these services. FQHC services are not subject to a deductible and the payment computation for FQHCs does not include a reduction related to the deductible.
(iv) For RHCs and FQHCs, payment for pneumococcal, influenza, and COVID-19 vaccine and their administration is 100 percent of Medicare reasonable cost.

(2) The total reimbursement amount due is compared with total payments made to the RHC or FQHC for the reporting period, and the difference constitutes the amount of the reconciliation.

(c) Notice of program reimbursement. The MAC notifies the RHC or FQHC that is authorized to bill under the reasonable-cost system:

(1) Setting forth its determination of the total reimbursement amount due the RHC or FQHC for the reporting period and the amount, if any, of the reconciliation; and
(2) Informing the RHC or FQHC of its right to have the determination reviewed at a hearing under the procedures set forth in subpart R of this part.

(d) Payment of reconciliation amount -

(1) Underpayments. If the total reimbursement due the RHC or FQHC that is authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system exceeds the payments made for the reporting period, the MAC makes a lump-sum payment to the RHC or FQHC to bring total payments into agreement with total reimbursement due the RHC or FQHC.
(2) Overpayments. If the total payments made to a RHC or FQHC for the reporting period exceed the total reimbursement due the RHC or FQHC for the period, the MAC arranges with the RHC or FQHC for repayment through a lump-sum refund, or, if that poses a hardship for the RHC or FQHC, through offset against subsequent payments or a combination of offset and refund. The repayment must be completed as quickly as possible, generally within 12 months from the date of the notice of program reimbursement. A longer repayment period may be agreed to by the MAC if the MAC is satisfied that unusual circumstances exist which warrant a longer period.

§405.2467 Requirements of the FQHC PPS.

(a) Cost reporting. For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2014, FQHCs are paid the lesser of their actual charges or the FQHC PPS rate that does all of the following:

(1) Includes a process for appropriately describing the services furnished by FQHCs.
(2) Establishes payment rates for specific payment codes based on such appropriate descriptions of services.
(3) Takes into account the type, intensity and duration of services furnished by FQHCs.
(4) May include adjustments (such as geographic adjustments) determined by the Secretary.

(b) Initial payments.

(1) Beginning October 1, 2014, for the first 15 months of the PPS, the estimated aggregate amount of PPS rates is equal to 100 percent of the estimated amount of reasonable costs that would have occurred for that period if the PPS had not been implemented.
(2) Payment rate is calculated based on the reasonable cost system, prior to productivity adjustments and any payment limitations.

(c) Payments in subsequent years.

(1) Beginning January 1, 2016, PPS payment rates will be increased by the percentage increase in the Medicare economic index.
(2) Beginning January 1, 2017, PPS rates will be increased by the percentage increase in a market basket of FQHC goods and services as established through regulations, or, if not available, the Medicare economic index.

§405.2468 Allowable costs.

(a) Applicability of general Medicare principles. In determining whether and to what extent a specific type or item of cost is allowable, such as interest, depreciation, bad debts and owner compensation, the MAC applies the principles for reimbursement of provider costs, as set forth in part 413 of this subchapter.

(b) Typical RHC and FQHC costs. The following types and items of cost are included in allowable costs to the extent that they are covered and reasonable:

(1) Compensation for the services of a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, visiting registered professional or licensed practical nurse, clinical psychologist,, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, and mental health counselor who owns, is employed by, or furnishes services under contract to a FQHC or RHC.
(2) Compensation for the duties that a supervising physician is required to perform under the agreement specified in §491.8 of this chapter.
(3) Costs of services and supplies incident to the services of a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, qualified clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
(4) Overhead costs, including RHC or FQHC administration, costs applicable to use and maintenance of the entity, and depreciation costs.
(5) Costs of services purchased by the RHC or FQHC.

(c) Tests of reasonableness of cost and utilization. Tests of reasonableness authorized by sections 1833(a) and 1861(v)(1)(A) of the Act may be established by CMS or the MAC with respect to direct or indirect overall costs, costs of specific items and services, or costs of groups of items and services. For RHCs and FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system, these tests include, but are not limited to, screening guidelines and payment limits.
(d) Screening guidelines.

(1) Costs in excess of amounts established by the guidelines are not included unless the RHC or FQHC that is authorized to bill under the reasonable cost system provides reasonable justification satisfactory to the MAC.
(2) Screening guidelines are used to assess the costs of services, including the following:

(i) Compensation for the professional and supervisory services of physicians and for the services of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives.
(ii) Services of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, visiting nurses, qualified clinical psychologists, and clinical social workers.
(iii) The level of administrative and general expenses.
(iv) Staffing (for example, the ratio of other RHC or FQHC personnel to physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners).
(v) The reasonableness of payments for services purchased by the RHC or FQHC, subject to the limitation that the costs of physician services purchased by the RHC or FQHC may not exceed amounts determined under the applicable provisions of subpart E of part 405 or part 415 of this chapter.

(e) Payment limitations. Limits on payments may be set by CMS, on the basis of costs estimated to be reasonable for the provision of such services.
(f) Graduate medical education.

(1) Effective for portions of cost reporting periods occurring on or after January 1, 1999, if an RHC or an FQHC incurs “all or substantially all” of the costs for the training program in the nonhospital setting as defined in §413.75(b) of this chapter, the RHC or FQHC may receive direct graduate medical education payment for those residents. However, in connection with cost reporting periods for which “all or substantially all of the costs for the training program in the nonhospital setting” is not defined in §413.75(b) of this chapter, if an RHC or an FQHC incurs the salaries and fringe benefits (including travel and lodging where applicable) of residents training at the RHC or FQHC, the RHC or FQHC may receive direct graduate medical education payments for those residents.
(2) Direct graduate medical education costs are not included as allowable cost under §405.2466(b)(1)(i); and therefore, are not subject to the limit on the all-inclusive rate for allowable costs.
(3) Allowable graduate medical education costs must be reported on the RHC's or the FQHC's cost report under a separate cost center.
(4) Allowable graduate medical education costs are non-reimbursable if payment for these costs are received from a hospital or a Medicare Advantage organization.
(5) Allowable direct graduate medical education costs under paragraphs (f)(6) and (f)(7)(i) of this section, are subject to reasonable cost principles under part 413 and the reasonable compensation equivalency limits in §§415.60 and 415.70 of this chapter.
(6) The allowable direct graduate medical education costs are those costs incurred by the nonhospital site for the educational activities associated with patient care services of an approved program, subject to the redistribution and community support principles in §413.85(c).

(i) The following costs are allowable direct graduate medical education costs to the extent that they are reasonable—

(A) The costs of the residents' salaries and fringe benefits (including travel and lodging expenses where applicable).
(B) The portion of teaching physicians' salaries and fringe benefits that are related to the time spent teaching and supervising residents.
(C) Facility overhead costs that are allocated to direct graduate medical education.

(ii) The following costs are not allowable graduate medical education costs—

(A) Costs associated with training, but not related to patient care services.
(B) Normal operating and capital-related costs.
(C) The marginal increase in patient care costs that the RHC or FQHC experiences as a result of having an approved program.
(D) The costs associated with activities described in §413.85(h) of this chapter.

(7) Payment is equal to the product of -

(i) The RHC's or the FQHC's allowable direct graduate medical education costs; and
(ii) Medicare's share, which is equal to the ratio of Medicare visits to the total number of visits (as defined in §405.2463).

(8) Direct graduate medical education payments to RHCs and FQHCs made under this section are made from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

§405.2469 FQHC supplemental payments.

(a) Eligibility for supplemental payments. FQHCs under contract (directly or indirectly) with MA organizations are eligible for supplemental payments for FQHC services furnished to enrollees in MA plans offered by the MA organization to cover the difference, if any, between their payments from the MA plan and what they would receive under one of the following:

(1) The PPS rate if the FQHC is authorized to bill under the PPS; or
(2) The Medicare outpatient per visit rate as set annually by the Indian Health Service for grandfathered tribal FQHCs.

(b) Calculation of supplemental payment. The supplemental payment for FQHC covered services provided to Medicare patients enrolled in MA plans is based on the difference between—

(1) Payments received by the FQHC from the MA plan as determined on a per visit basis and the FQHCs all-inclusive cost-based per visit rate as set forth in this subpart, less any amount the FQHC may charge as described in section 1857(e)(3)(B) of the Act; or
(2) Payments received by the FQHC from the MA plan as determined on a per visit basis and the FQHC PPS rate as set forth in this subpart, less any amount the FQHC may charge as described in section 1857(e)(3)(B) of the Act; or
(3) Payments received by the FQHC from the MA plan as determined on a per visit basis and the FQHC outpatient rate as set forth in this section under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, less any amount the FQHC may charge as described in section 1857(e)(3)(B) of the Act.

(c) Financial incentives. Any financial incentives provided to FQHCs under their MA contracts, such as risk pool payments, bonuses, or withholds, are prohibited from being included in the calculation of supplemental payments due to the FQHC.
(d) Per visit supplemental payment. A supplemental payment required under this section is made to the FQHC when a covered face-to-face encounter occurs between a MA enrollee and a practitioner as set forth in §405.2463.

§405.2470 Reports and maintenance of records.

(a) Maintenance and availability of records. The RHC or FQHC must:

(1) Maintain adequate financial and statistical records, in the form and containing the data required by CMS, to allow the MAC to determine payment for covered services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in accordance with this subpart;
(2) Make the records available for verification and audit by HHS or the General Accounting Office;
(3) Maintain financial data on an accrual basis, unless it is part of a governmental institution that uses a cash basis of accounting. In the latter case, appropriate depreciation on capital assets is allowable rather than the expenditure for the capital asset.

(b) Adequacy of records.

(1) The MAC may suspend reimbursement if it determines that the RHC or FQHC does not maintain records that provide an adequate basis to determine payments under Medicare.
(2) The suspension continues until the RHC or FQHC demonstrates to the MAC's satisfaction that it does, and will continue to, maintain adequate records.

(1) Initial report. At the beginning of its initial reporting period, the RHC or FQHC must submit an estimate of budgeted costs and visits for RHC or FQHC services for the reporting period, in the form and detail required by CMS, and such other information as CMS may require to establish the payment rate.
(2)Annual reports. Within 90 days after the end of its reporting period, the RHC or FQHC must submit, in such form and detail as may be required by CMS, a report of:

(i) Its operations, including the allowable costs actually incurred for the period and the actual number of visits for RHC or FQHC services furnished during the period; and
(ii) The estimated costs and visits for RHC services or FQHC services for the succeeding reporting period and such other information as CMS may require to establish the payment rate.

(3) Late reports. If the RHC or FQHCdoes not submit an adequate annual report on time, the MAC may reduce or suspend payments to preclude excess payment to the RHC or FQHC.
(4) Inadequate reports. If the RHC or FQHC does not furnish a report or furnishes a report that is inadequate for the MAC to make a determination of program payment, CMS may deem all payments for the reporting period to be overpayments.
(5) Postponement of due date. For good cause shown by the RHC or FQHC, the MAC may, with CMS's approval, grant a 30-day postponement of the due date for the annual report.
(6) Reports following termination of agreement or change of ownership. The report from a RHC or FQHC which voluntarily or involuntarily ceases to participate in the Medicare program or experiences a change in ownership (see §§405.2436-405.2438) is due no later than 45 days following the effective date of the termination of agreement or change of ownership.

(d) Collection of additional claims data. Beginning January 1, 2011, a Medicare FQHC must report on its Medicare claims such information as the Secretary determines is needed to develop and implement a prospective payment system for FQHCs including, but not limited to all pertinent HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) code(s) corresponding to the service(s) provided for each Medicare FQHC visit (as defined in §405.2463).

§405.2472 Beneficiary appeals.

A beneficiary may request a hearing by an intermediary (subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in subpart H of this part) if:

(a) The beneficiary is dissatisfied with a MAC's determination denying a request for payment made on his or her behalf by a RHC or FQHC;
(b) The beneficiary is dissatisfied with the amount of payment; or
(c) The beneficiary believes the request for payment is not being acted upon with reasonable promptness.

42 CFR Part 491 Subpart A – Rural Health Clinics: Conditions for Certification

Subpart A—Rural Health Clinics: Conditions for Certification; and FQHCs Conditions for Coverage

§491.1 Purpose and scope.

This subpart sets forth the conditions that rural health clinics or FQHCs must meet in order to qualify for reimbursement under Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) and that rural health clinics must meet in order to qualify for reimbursement under Medicaid (title XIX of the Act).

§491.2 Definitions.

As used in this subpart, unless the context indicates otherwise:

Direct services means services provided by the clinic's staff.

FQHC means an entity as defined in §405.2401(b).

Nurse practitioner means a registered professional nurse who is currently licensed to practice in the State, who meets the State's requirements governing the qualifications of nurse practitioners, and who meets one of the following conditions:

(1) Is certified as a nurse practitioner by a recognized national certifying body that has established standards for nurse practitioners and possesses a master's or doctoral degree in nursing practice; or
(2) Has satisfactorily completed a formal 1 academic year educational program that:

(i) Prepares registered nurses to perform an expanded role in the delivery of primary care;
(ii) Includes at least 4 months (in the aggregate) of classroom instruction and a component of supervised clinical practice; and
(iii) Awards a degree, diploma, or certificate to persons who successfully complete the program; or

(3) Has successfully completed a formal educational program (for preparing registered nurses to perform an expanded role in the delivery of primary care) that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (2) of this definition, and has been performing an expanded role in the delivery of primary care for a total of 12 months during the 18-month period immediately preceding the effective date of this subpart.

Physician means the following:

(1) As it pertains to the supervision, collaboration, and oversight requirements in sections 1861(aa)(2)(B) and (aa)(3) of the Act, a doctor of medicine or osteopathy legally authorized to practice medicine or surgery in the State in which the function is performed; and
(2) Within limitations as to the specific services furnished, a doctor of dental surgery or of dental medicine, a doctor of optometry, a doctor of podiatry or surgical chiropody or a chiropractor (see section 1861(r) of the Act for specific limitations).

Physician assistant means a person who meets the applicable State requirements governing the qualifications for assistants to primary care physicians, and who meets at least one of the following conditions:

(1) Is currently certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants to assist primary care physicians; or
(2) Has satisfactorily completed a program for preparing physician's assistants that:

(i) Was at least 1 academic year in length;
(ii) Consisted of supervised clinical practice and at least 4 months (in the aggregate) of classroom instruction directed toward preparing students to deliver health care; and
(iii) Was accredited by the American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation; or

(3) Has satisfactorily completed a formal educational program (for preparing physician assistants) that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (2) of this definition and assisted primary care physicians for a total of 12 months during the 18-month period that ended on December 31, 1986.

Rural area means an area that is not delineated as an urbanized area by the Bureau of the Census.

Rural health clinic or clinic means a clinic that is located in a rural area designated as a shortage area, is not a rehabilitation agency or a facility primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases, and meets all other requirements of this subpart.

Shortage area means a defined geographic area designated by the Department as having either a shortage of personal health services (under section 1302(7) of the Public Health Service Act) or a shortage of primary medical care manpower (under section 332 of that Act).

Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or any official to whom he has delegated the pertinent authority.

§491.3 Certification procedures.

A rural health clinic will be certified for participation in Medicare in accordance with subpart S of 42 CFR part 405. The Secretary will notify the State Medicaid agency whenever he has certified or denied certification under Medicare for a prospective rural health clinic in that State. A clinic certified under Medicare will be deemed to meet the standards for certification under Medicaid.

§491.4 Compliance with Federal, State and local laws.

The rural health clinic or FQHC and its staff are in compliance with applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations.

(a)Licensure of clinic or center. The clinic or center is licensed pursuant to applicable State and local law.
(b) Licensure, certification or registration of personnel. Staff of the clinic or center are licensed, certified or registered in accordance with applicable State and local laws.

§491.5 Location of clinic.

(a) Basic requirements.

(1) An RHC is located in a rural area that is designated as a shortage area.
(2) An FQHC is located in a rural or urban area that is designated as either a shortage area or an area that has a medically underserved population.
(3) Both the RHC and the FQHC may be permanent or mobile units.

(i) Permanent unit. The objects, equipment, and supplies necessary for the provision of the services furnished directly by the clinic or center are housed in a permanent structure.
(ii) Mobile unit. The objects, equipment, and supplies necessary for the provision of the services furnished directly by the clinic or center are housed in a mobile structure, which has fixed, scheduled location(s).
(iii) Permanent unit in more than one location. If clinic or center services are furnished at permanent units in more than one location, each unit is independently considered for approval as a rural health clinic or for approval as an FQHC.

(b) Exceptions.

(1) CMS does not disqualify an RHC approved under this subpart if the area in which it is located subsequently fails to meet the definition of a rural, shortage area.
(2) A private, nonprofit facility that meets all other conditions of this subpart except for location in a shortage area will be certified if, on July 1, 1977, it was operating in a rural area that is determined by the Secretary (on the basis of the ratio of primary care physicians to the general population) to have an insufficient supply of physicians to meet the needs of the area served.
(3) Determinations on these exceptions will be made by the Secretary upon application by the facility.

(c)Criteria for designation of rural areas.

(1) Rural areas are areas not delineated as urbanized areas in the last census conducted by the Census Bureau.
(2) Excluded from the rural area classification are:

(i) Central cities of 50,000 inhabitants or more;
(ii) Cities with at least 25,000 inhabitants which, together with contiguous areas having stipulated population density, have combined populations of 50,000 and constitute, for general economic and social purposes, single communities;
(iii) Closely settled territories surrounding cities and specifically designated by the Census Bureau as urban.

(3) Included in the rural area classification are those portions of extended cities that the Census Bureau has determined to be rural.

(d)Criteria for designation of shortage areas.

(1) The criteria for determination of shortage of personal health services (under section 1302(7) of the Public Health Services Act), are:

(i) The ratio of primary care physicians practicing within the area to the resident population;
(ii) The infant mortality rate;
(iii) The percent of the population 65 years of age or older; and
(iv) The percent of the population with a family income below the poverty level.

(2) The criteria for determination of shortage of primary medical care manpower (under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Services Act) are:

(i) The area served is a rational area for the delivery of primary medical care services;
(ii) The ratio of primary care physicians practicing within the area to the resident population; and
(iii) The primary medical care manpower in contiguous areas is overutilized, excessively distant, or inaccessible to the population in this area.

(e)Medically underserved population. A medically underserved population includes the following:

(1) A population of an urban or rural area that is designated by PHS as having a shortage of personal health services.
(2) A population group that is designated by PHS as having a shortage of personal health services.

(f) Requirements specific to FQHCs. An FQHC approved for participation in Medicare must meet one of the following criteria:

(1) Furnish services to a medically underserved population.
(2) Be located in a medically underserved area, as demonstrated by an application approved by PHS.

§491.6 Physical plant and environment.

(a) Construction. The clinic or center is constructed, arranged, and maintained to insure access to and safety of patients, and provides adequate space for the provision of direct services.
(b) Maintenance. The clinic or center has a preventive maintenance program to ensure that:

(1) All essential mechanical, electrical and patient-care equipment is maintained in safe operating condition;
(2) Drugs and biologicals are appropriately stored; and
(3) The premises are clean and orderly.

§491.7 Organizational structure.

(a) Basic requirements.

(1) The clinic or center is under the medical direction of a physician, and has a health care staff that meets the requirements of §491.8.
(2) The organization's policies and its lines of authority and responsibilities are clearly set forth in writing.

(b) Disclosure. The clinic or center discloses the names and addresses of:

(1) Its owners, in accordance with section 1124 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 132 A-3);
(2) The person principally responsible for directing the operation of the clinic or center; and
(3) The person responsible for medical direction.

§491.8 Staffing and staff responsibilities.

(a) Staffing.

(1) The clinic or center has a health care staff that includes one or more physicians. Rural health clinic staffs must also include one or more physician's assistants or nurse practitioners.
(2) The physician member of the staff may be the owner of the rural health clinic, an employee of the clinic or center, or under agreement with the clinic or center to carry out the responsibilities required under this section.
(3) The physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, clinical social worker or clinical psychologist member of the staff may be the owner or an employee of the clinic or center, or may furnish services under contract to the clinic or center. In the case of a clinic, at least one physician assistant or nurse practitioner must be an employee of the clinic.
(4) The staff may also include ancillary personnel who are supervised by the professional staff.
(5) The staff is sufficient to provide the services essential to the operation of the clinic or center.
(6) A physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, or clinical psychologist is available to furnish patient care services at all times the clinic or center operates. In addition, for RHCs, a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife is available to furnish patient care services at least 50 percent of the time the RHC operates.

(b)Physician responsibilities. The physician performs the following:

(1) Except for services furnished by a clinical psychologist in an FQHC, which State law permits to be provided without physician supervision, provides medical direction for the clinic's or center's health care activities and consultation for, and medical supervision of, the health care staff.
(2) In conjunction with the physician assistant and/or nurse practitioner member(s), participates in developing, executing, and periodically reviewing the clinic's or center's written policies and the services provided to Federal program patients.
(3) Periodically reviews the clinic's or center's patient records, provides medical orders, and provides medical care services to the patients of the clinic or center.

(c) Physician assistant and nurse practitioner responsibilities.

(1) The physician assistant and the nurse practitioner members of the clinic's or center's staff:

(i) Participate in the development, execution and periodic review of the written policies governing the services the clinic or center furnishes;
(ii) Participate with a physician in a periodic review of the patients' health records.

(2) The physician assistant or nurse practitioner performs the following functions, to the extent they are not being performed by a physician:

(i) Provides services in accordance with the clinic's or center's policies;
(ii) Arranges for, or refers patients to, needed services that cannot be provided at the clinic or center; and
(iii) Assures that adequate patient health records are maintained and transferred as required when patients are referred.

(d) COVID-19 vaccination of staff. *Please Note: the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for staff in healthcare facilities was rescinded with the publication of the final rule on June 5, 2023. RHCs are no longer required to implement this mandate or other 491.8(d) requirements below.*

The RHC/FQHC must develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that all staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. For purposes of this section, staff are considered fully vaccinated if it has been 2 weeks or more since they completed a primary vaccination series for COVID-19. The completion of a primary vaccination series for COVID-19 is defined here as the administration of a single-dose vaccine, or the administration of all required doses of a multi-dose vaccine.

(1) Regardless of clinical responsibility or patient contact, the policies and procedures must apply to the following clinic or center staff, who provide any care, treatment, or other services for the clinic or center and/or its patients:

(i) RHC/FQHC employees;
(ii) Licensed practitioners;
(iii) Students, trainees, and volunteers; and
(iv) Individuals who provide care, treatment, or other services for the clinic or center and/or its patients, under contract or by other arrangement.

(2) The policies and procedures of this section do not apply to the following clinic or center staff:

(i) Staff who exclusively provide telehealth or telemedicine services outside of the clinic or center setting and who do not have any direct contact with patients and other staff specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section; and
(ii) Staff who provide support services for the clinic or center that are performed exclusively outside of the clinic or center setting and who do not have any direct contact with patients and other staff specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(3) The policies and procedures must include, at a minimum, the following components:

(i) A process for ensuring all staff specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section (except for those staff who have pending requests for, or who have been granted, exemptions to the vaccination requirements of this section, or those staff for whom COVID-19 vaccination must be temporarily delayed, as recommended by the CDC, due to clinical precautions and considerations) have received, at a minimum, a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or the first dose of the primary vaccination series for a multi-dose COVID-19 vaccine prior to staff providing any care, treatment, or other services for the clinic or center and/or its patients;
(ii) A process for ensuring that all staff specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, except for those staff who have been granted exemptions to the vaccination requirements of this section, or those staff for whom COVID-19 vaccination must be temporarily delayed, as recommended by the CDC, due to clinical precautions and considerations;
(iii) A process for ensuring that the clinic or center follows nationally recognized infection prevention and control guidelines intended to mitigate the transmission and spread of COVID-19, and which must include the implementation of additional precautions for all staff who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19;
(iv) A process for tracking and securely documenting the COVID-19 vaccination status for all staff specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section;
(v) A process for tracking and securely documenting the COVID-19 vaccination status of any staff who have obtained any booster doses as recommended by the CDC;
(vi) A process by which staff may request an exemption from the staff COVID-19 vaccination requirements based on an applicable Federal law;
(vii) A process for tracking and securely documenting information provided by those staff who have requested, and for whom the facility has granted, an exemption from the staff COVID-19 vaccination requirements;
(viii) A process for ensuring that all documentation, which confirms recognized clinical contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines and which supports staff requests for medical exemptions from vaccination, has been signed and dated by a licensed practitioner, who is not the individual requesting the exemption, and who is acting within their respective scope of practice as defined by, and in accordance with, all applicable State and local laws, and for further ensuring that such documentation contains

(A) All information specifying which of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are clinically contraindicated for the staff member to receive and the recognized clinical reasons for the contraindications; and
(B) A statement by the authenticating practitioner recommending that the staff member be exempted from the clinic’s or center’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements for staff based on the recognized clinical contraindications;

(ix) A process for ensuring the tracking and secure documentation of the vaccination status of staff for whom COVID-19 vaccination must be temporarily delayed, as recommended by the CDC, due to clinical precautions and considerations, including, but not limited to, individuals with acute illness secondary to COVID-19, and individuals who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment; and
(x) Contingency plans for staff who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

§491.9 Provision of services.

(a) Basic requirements.

(1) All services offered by the clinic or center are furnished in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws; and
(2) The clinic or center is primarily engaged in providing outpatient health services and meets all other conditions of this subpart.
(3) The laboratory requirements in paragraph (c)(2) of this section apply to RHCs, but do not apply to FQHCs.

(b) Patient care policies.

(1) The clinic's or center's health care services are furnished in accordance with appropriate written policies which are consistent with applicable State law.
(2) The policies are developed with the advice of a group of professional personnel that includes one or more physicians and one or more physician assistants or nurse practitioners. At least one member is not a member of the clinic or center staff.
(3) The policies include:

(i) A description of the services the clinic or center furnishes directly and those furnished through agreement or arrangement.
(ii) Guidelines for the medical management of health problems which include the conditions requiring medical consultation and/or patient referral, the maintenance of health care records, and procedures for the periodic review and evaluation of the services furnished by the clinic or center.
(iii) Rules for the storage, handling, and administration of drugs and biologicals.

(4) These policies are reviewed at least biennially by the group of professional personnel required under paragraph (b)(2) of this section and reviewed as necessary by the RHC or FQHC.

(1) General. The clinic or center staff furnishes those diagnostic and therapeutic services and supplies that are commonly furnished in a physician's office or at the entry point into the health care delivery system. These include medical history, physical examination, assessment of health status, and treatment for a variety of medical conditions.
(2) Laboratory. These requirements apply to RHCs but not to FQHCs. The RHC provides laboratory services in accordance with part 493 of this chapter, which implements the provisions of section 353 of the Public Health Service Act. The RHC provides basic laboratory services essential to the immediate diagnosis and treatment of the patient, including:

(i) Chemical examinations of urine by stick or tablet method or both (including urine ketones);
(ii) Hemoglobin or hematocrit;
(iii) Blood glucose;
(iv) Examination of stool specimens for occult blood;
(v) Pregnancy tests; and
(vi) Primary culturing for transmittal to a certified laboratory.

(3) Emergency. The clinic or center provides medical emergency procedures as a first response to common life-threatening injuries and acute illness and has available the drugs and biologicals commonly used in life saving procedures, such as analgesics, anesthetics (local), antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antidotes and emetics, serums and toxoids.

(d) Services provided through agreements or arrangements.

(1) The clinic or center has agreements or arrangements with one or more providers or suppliers participating under Medicare or Medicaid to furnish other services to its patients, including:

(i) Inpatient hospital care;
(ii) Physician(s) services (whether furnished in the hospital, the office, the patient's home, a skilled nursing facility, or elsewhere); and
(iii) Additional and specialized diagnostic and laboratory services that are not available at the clinic or center.

(2) If the agreements are not in writing, there is evidence that patients referred by the clinic or center are being accepted and treated.

§491.10 Patient health records.

(a) Records system.

(1) The clinic or center maintains a clinical record system in accordance with written policies and procedures.
(2) A designated member of the professional staff is responsible for maintaining the records and for insuring that they are completely and accurately documented, readily accessible, and systematically organized.
(3) For each patient receiving health care services, the clinic or center maintains a record that includes, as applicable:

(i) Identification and social data, evidence of consent forms, pertinent medical history, assessment of the health status and health care needs of the patient, and a brief summary of the episode, disposition, and instructions to the patient;
(ii) Reports of physical examinations, diagnostic and laboratory test results, and consultative findings;
(iii) All physician's orders, reports of treatments and medications, and other pertinent information necessary to monitor the patient's progress;
(iv) Signatures of the physician or other health care professional.

(b) Protection of record information.

(1) The clinic or center maintains the confidentiality of record information and provides safeguards against loss, destruction or unauthorized use.
(2) Written policies and procedures govern the use and removal of records from the clinic or center and the conditions for release of information.
(3) The patient's written consent is required for release of information not authorized to be released without such consent.

(c) Retention of records. The records are retained for at least 6 years from date of last entry, and longer if required by State statute.

§491.11 Program evaluation.

(a) The clinic or center carries out, or arranges for, a biennial evaluation of its total program.
(b) The evaluation includes review of:

(1) The utilization of clinic or center services, including at least the number of patients served and the volume of services;
(2) A representative sample of both active and closed clinical records; and
(3) The clinic's or center's health care policies.

(c) The purpose of the evaluation is to determine whether:

(1) The utilization of services was appropriate;
(2) The established policies were followed; and
(3) Any changes are needed.

(d) The clinic or center staff considers the findings of the evaluation and takes corrective action if necessary.

§491.12 Emergency preparedness.

The Rural Health Clinic/Federally Qualified Health Center (RHC/FQHC) must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local emergency preparedness requirements. The RHC/FQHC must establish and maintain an emergency preparedness program that meets the requirements of this section. The emergency preparedness program must include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

(a) Emergency plan. The RHC or FQHC must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan that must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. The plan must do all of the following:

(1) Be based on and include a documented, facility-based and community-based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach.
(2) Include strategies for addressing emergency events identified by the risk assessment.
(3) Address patient population, including, but not limited to, the type of services the RHC/FQHC has the ability to provide in an emergency; and continuity of operations, including delegations of authority and succession plans.
(4) Include a process for cooperation and collaboration with local, tribal, regional, State, and Federal emergency preparedness officials' efforts to maintain an integrated response during a disaster or emergency situation.

(b) Policies and procedures. The RHC or FQHC must develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures, based on the emergency plan set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, risk assessment at paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and the communication plan at paragraph (c) of this section. The policies and procedures must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. At a minimum, the policies and procedures must address the following:

(1) Safe evacuation from the RHC/FQHC, which includes appropriate placement of exit signs; staff responsibilities and needs of the patients.
(2) A means to shelter in place for patients, staff, and volunteers who remain in the facility.
(3) A system of medical documentation that preserves patient information, protects confidentiality of patient information, and secures and maintains the availability of records.
(4) The use of volunteers in an emergency or other emergency staffing strategies, including the process and role for integration of State and Federally designated health care professionals to address surge needs during an emergency.

(c) Communication plan. The RHC or FQHC must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan that complies with Federal, State, and local laws and must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. The communication plan must include all of the following:

(1) Names and contact information for the following:

(i) Staff.
(ii) Entities providing services under arrangement.
(iii) Patients' physicians.
(iv) Other RHCs/FQHCs.
(v) Volunteers.

(2) Contact information for the following:

(i) Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency preparedness staff.
(ii) Other sources of assistance.

(3) Primary and alternate means for communicating with the following:

(i) RHC/FQHC's staff.
(ii) Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies.

(4) A means of providing information about the general condition and location of patients under the facility's care as permitted under 45 CFR 164.510(b)(4).

(5) A means of providing information about the RHC/FQHC's needs, and its ability to provide assistance, to the authority having jurisdiction or the Incident Command Center, or designee.

(d) Training and testing. The RHC or FQHC must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness training and testing program that is based on the emergency plan set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, risk assessment at paragraph (a)(1) of this section, policies and procedures at paragraph (b) of this section, and the communication plan at paragraph (c) of this section. The training and testing program must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years.

(1) Training program. The RHC/FQHC must do all of the following:

(i) Initial training in emergency preparedness policies and procedures to all new and existing staff, individuals providing services under arrangement, and volunteers, consistent with their expected roles,
(ii) Provide emergency preparedness training at least every 2 years.
(iii) Maintain documentation of the training.
(iv) Demonstrate staff knowledge of emergency procedures.
(v) If the emergency preparedness policies and procedures are significantly updated, the RHC/FQHC must conduct training on the updated policies and procedures.

(2) Testing. The RHC or FQHC must conduct exercises to test the emergency plan at least annually. The RHC or FQHC must do the following:

(i) Participate in a full-scale exercise that is community-based every 2 years; or

(A) When a community-based exercise is not accessible, an individual, facility-based functional exercise every 2 years; or.
(B) If the RHC or FQHC experiences an actual natural or man-made emergency that requires activation of the emergency plan, the RHC or FQHC is exempt from engaging in its next required full-scale community-based or individual, facility-based functional exercise following the onset of the emergency event.

(ii) Conduct an additional exercise every 2 years, opposite the year the full-scale or functional exercise under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section is conducted, that may include, but is not limited to following:

(A) A second full-scale exercise that is community-based or an individual, facility-based functional exercise; or
(B) A mock disaster drill; or
(C) A tabletop exercise or workshop that is led by a facilitator and includes a group discussion, using a narrated, clinically-relevant emergency scenario, and a set of problem statements, directed messages, or prepared questions designed to challenge an emergency plan.

(iii) Analyze the RHC or FQHC's response to and maintain documentation of all drills, tabletop exercises, and emergency events, and revise the RHC or FQHC's emergency plan, as needed.

(e) Integrated healthcare systems. If a RHC/FQHC is part of a healthcare system consisting of multiple separately certified healthcare facilities that elects to have a unified and integrated emergency preparedness program, the RHC/FQHC may choose to participate in the healthcare system's coordinated emergency preparedness program. If elected, the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program must do all of the following:

(1) Demonstrate that each separately certified facility within the system actively participated in the development of the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program.
(2) Be developed and maintained in a manner that takes into account each separately certified facility's unique circumstances, patient populations, and services offered.
(3) Demonstrate that each separately certified facility is capable of actively using the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program and is in compliance with the program.
(4) Include a unified and integrated emergency plan that meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2), (3), and (4) of this section. The unified and integrated emergency plan must also be based on and include all of the following:

(i) A documented community-based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach.
(ii) A documented individual facility-based risk assessment for each separately certified facility within the health system, utilizing an all-hazards approach.

(5) Include integrated policies and procedures that meet the requirements set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, a coordinated communication plan, and training and testing programs that meet the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, respectively.