To be eligible for rural health clinic accreditation, the following requirements must be met:
- The organization is in the United States or its territories or, if outside the United States, is owned or operated by the US government or under a charter of the US Congress.
- The organization is licensed pursuant to applicable State and local law.
- Determined by Survey Operations Group (SOG) CMS Locations to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Located in a rural area designated as a shortage area, is not a rehabilitation agency or a facility primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases, and meets all other requirements of 42 CFR 405 and 491.
- A rural health clinic will be certified for participation in Medicare in accordance with subpart S of 42 CFR part 405. The Secretary will notify the State Medicaid agency whenever he has certified or denied certification under Medicare for a prospective rural health clinic in that State. A clinic certified under Medicare will be deemed to meet the standards for certification under Medicaid.
- Located in an area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as non-urbanized
- Located in an area currently designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the last 4 years as 1 of the following:
- Primary Care Geographic Health Professional Shortage Area
- Primary Care Population-Group Health Professional Shortage Area
- Medically Underserved Area
- Governor-designated and Secretary-certified Shortage Area
- The organization assesses and improves the quality of its care, treatment, and/or services. This process includes a review by clinicians, when appropriate.
- The organization identifies the health care services it provides, indicating which care, treatment, and/or services it provides directly, under contract, or through some other arrangement.
- The organization provides services addressed by Joint Commission standards.
- Has served 10 patients with at least 2 active patients at the time of survey.
