Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Articles in This Newsletter
National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) DC Office Updates
- NARHC Submits Comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
- Tracking a Pandemic: How Rural Health Clinics Utilized a Historic Investment to Fight COVID-19 Testing Program
- Proposed Vaccine Mandate
- CMS Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan Services
***NEW*** Member Spotlight
- Vaccination Rates Nearly Doubled – The Success Story of One Georgia RHC
Noteworthy News
- NARHC BOD Election is Underway!
- NARHC 2021 In-Person & Digital Fall Institute
- Free Introduction to RHCs Course
Consultant’s Corner
- Mental Health Issues in Rural Communities
- Patient Balances in Times of COVID
- RHCs Can Offer Remote Patient Monitoring
- So What Exactly is the Role of Your Medical Director
NARHC Submits Comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
New RHC Telehealth and Grandfathering Policies
Each year, NARHC submits official comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on their Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (MPFS) released each summer. This serves as an important way to respond to potential regulatory changes that impact RHCs as well as advocate on behalf of additional future changes of importance to the RHC community. Read More to view the topics impacting RHCs which were the focus of our comments.
Tracking a Pandemic: How Rural Health Clinics Utilized a Historic Investment to Fight COVID-19
Rural Health Clinic Experiences from the COVID-19 Testing Program
Throughout the last sixteen months, RHCs have utilized Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing (RHCCT) Program funding to expand their COVID-19 testing capabilities, further their collaboration with other entities, retrofit their facilities, purchase needed supplies and equipment, and much more.
NARHC encourages you to read this report which shares data and stories captured on RHCcovidreporting.com. Read More
Proposed Vaccine Mandate
More Details to be Announced in October Interim Final Rule
As you all have probably seen, the Biden-Harris Administration recently announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for staff within all Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities. This includes Rural Health Clinics. Additionally, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was directed to develop a rule for all employers with 100 or more employees to either be fully vaccinated or to produce a negative COVID-19 test result weekly. Read More
CMS Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to raise your awareness about Medicare-covered services to detect and diagnose cognitive impairment.
Vaccination Rates Nearly Doubled – The Success Story of One Georgia RHC
Read as one George RHC Practice Manager tells how they used Vaccine Confidence Funds to nearly double their vaccination rates. Read More
HAVE YOU VOTED?
Each primary contact for your RHC’s membership is eligible to vote in the NARHC Board of Directors Election currently underway. It is vital you take a moment to review the candidate’s bios and video messages, and place your votes! Voting closes October 14th so act soon and have a voice in NARHC’s future!
(Only applicable to RHC members)
NARHC 2021 FALL INSTITUTE IS NEXT MONTH!
Join NARHC and your RHC colleagues Monday, October 18th-20th at the conference for and about RHCs!
LIVE IN-PERSON: Join other RHC professionals in Northern Kentucky (Cincinnati) for networking, RHC Education, exhibitors, and help NARHC celebrate its 30th Anniversary!
DIGITAL: Utilize NARHC’s online app to have full access to the live session recordings. Watch all sessions at your own pace and communicate with speakers and exhibitors within the app. Perfect for those who can’t attend the in-person conference.
Mental Health Issues in Rural Communities
As the COVID-19 Epidemic lingers in Rural America, an Older Epidemic Rears it’s Head – The Struggle for Good Mental Healthcare
Rural America, or rural areas, are defined by low density or geographically isolated areas and can range from 2,500 to 50,000 people. People living in these areas face unique challenges for patient care compared to the rest of the United States: Read More
Patient Balances in Times of COVID
Patient Co-Insurance and Deductible During COVID-19
As the pandemic endures, questions are churning about payer policies for Co-Insurance and Deductible (Coins/Ded) amounts related to COVID. NARHC seeks to illuminate the answers some of these questions. Read More
RHCs Can (and should) Offer Remote Patient Monitoring
Creative Tips to Provide this Service
There’s some confusion with regards to Rural Health Clinics and whether such organizations can offer Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services to their patients.
The fact is, it is possible. RHCs can provide RPM services. Read More
So What Exactly is the Role of Your Medical Director?
Do You Know? Do They Know?
Rural Health Clinics (RHC) live and die by 42 CFR §491, the federal regulation governing the Conditions of Certification. The role and responsibilities of the RHC medical director is often a confusing compliance issue. The confusion most often stems from the differences between federal and state regulations especially when state regulations for supervision or collaboration do not align with the federal regulations for the medical director. Read More