This regulatory relief bill contains 5 important provisions, intended to modernize RHC program policies established in 1977 to make them more reflective of the changing healthcare landscape.
- Modernizes RHC physician supervision requirements by aligning them to state scope of practice laws governing PA and NP practice.
- Removes the requirement that RHCs must “directly provide” certain lab services on site and allows RHCs to instead offer “prompt access” to these services.
- Allows RHCs the flexibility to contract with or employ PAs and NPs.
- Maintains status quo location eligibility, allowing RHCs to be located in an area that is not in an urban area of 50,000 or more, given that the Census Bureau no longer utilizes the term “urbanized area.”
- Allows RHCs to provide increased behavioral health services when located in a mental health-HPSA.
S.198 and H.R. 3730 were recently introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. To continue this momentum, we need your help! We strongly encourage you to reach out to your Senators and Representatives, sharing your support for this bill and how it will benefit your RHCs, ultimately asking them to co-sponsor the legislation.