Procedure to Certify a Rural Health Clinic


Purpose: This procedure describes the steps necessary to become a certified rural health clinic. Rules governing the certification of Rural Health Clinics are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 42 CFR Part 491.4 - 491.11.

Please be aware that there may be variations in the process since individual projects may have special circumstances. The flow chart is intended to be a general guide to aide the applicant in completing the overall project. For questions regarding any portion of this process, please contact the appropriate section of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Contacts: For questions regarding any part of this process, please contact the appropriate section of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services

Licensure; Acute and Home Care Branch (919) 733-1610
Office of Rural Health and Resource Development (919) 733-2040


Procedures:

Step

Process followed
1.0 Determine rural health status: Office of Rural Health and Resource Development
1.1 Before becoming certified, the clinic must first qualify for rural health status. The applicant contacts the Office of Rural Health and Resource Development to learn if the location is considered a medically underserved area or a health professional shortage and rural area.
2.0 Obtain certification: Acute and Home Care Branch
2.1 The applicant contacts the Acute and Home Care Branch three months prior to operation for an application packet.
2.2 The applicant completes the information and returns it to the Branch.
2.3 As soon as the clinic is ready for operation, the applicant contacts the Branch for an on-site survey.
2.4 If the application packet has been approved by the Branch and the applicant’s fiscal intermediary and if the clinic is seeing patients, the Branch schedules an on-site survey generally within three weeks of the request
2.5 If the applicant has deficiencies during the initial survey, then the effective date for participation will be the date the Branch receives an acceptable plan of correction signed by the applicant.
2.6 The Branch forwards all information to the Atlanta Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) Regional Office for approval.
2.7 The Regional Office assigns the provider number and notifies the fiscal intermediary.
Return to
DHSR Home Page

This page last updated on April 12, 2004