Medicare Rules Introduced to Provide Health Care in Rural Areas

The Centre for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new rules under which Medical beneficiaries in rural areas will be able to access health care through Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that have been designed to meet their specific needs.

Speaking on the issue, acting CMS administrator, Kerry Weems said that the changes that have been proposed to the rural health clinic program are meant to ensure good quality health services to Medicare beneficiaries in rural and previously underserved areas. Along with regular physicians, certain non physicians too shall aid in the program. The aim is to provide best value services from RHCs.

Under the proposed regulation, RHCs are supposed to establish QAPI (Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement) programs. In order to ensure that each RHC is demographically suited to the needs of the people, they will maintain location specific requirements so that the people are served in their best interest. However, pre-existing RHCs may be exempt from establishing location requirements. Greater flexibility to the RHCs and sharing of resources has also been provided for. Keeping the statutory requirements in mind, payments for RHCs will be limited to 80 per cent of the costs, excluding the deductible amounts and beneficiary coinsurance.

Most importantly, these RHCs will be located in rural areas where there is a severe shortage of health services. With participation from non physician practitioners like nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants, the RHCs will be able to provide care to a greater number of people. Such regulations should go a long way in improving Medicare services in underserved areas.