6.) Certification of Certain Health Facilities
a.) Rural health clinics and FQHCS
A rural health clinic (RHC) and federally qualified health center (FQHC) must comply with the following requirements in order to be certified for participation in Medicare:144
- A RHC must be located in a rural area that is designated in a shortage area.145 A FQHC must be located in a rural or urban area that is designated as either a shortage area or an area that has a medically underserved population. Both the RHC and the FQHC may be permanent or mobile units.
- A RHC or FQHC must comply with requirements relating to construction, maintenance, and emergency procedures.146
- A RHC or FQHC must maintain a clinical record system. For each patient receiving health care services, the clinic or center must maintain a record in a manner that protects patient confidentiality.147
- A clinic or center must have an annual evaluation of its total program that reviews the utilization of its services, clinical records, and health care policies.148
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