Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) were authorized in 1977 for the purpose of improving access to care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The clinics receive reasonable cost reimbursement under Medicare, and can be either provider based or free-standing. They must be located in a rural area that is either a HPSA or a MUA.

NRHA believes that the Medicare and Medicaid cost per visit limit for RHCs should be approximate to the actual cost of service.  NRHA also believes that RHCs should be made eligible for the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The NRHA has a Rural Health Clinics Constituency Group, which is comprised of health care professionals and others who are interested in encouraging the delivery of quality primary care services in rural areas and in the development, organization, operations, regulation, reimbursement, support and success of federally designated Rural Health Clinics. Tommy L. Barnhart, CPA is the chair of this constituency group and he can be reached at: tbarnhart@dixon-hughes.com