New Clinic Development

Access to primary care has been a driving force in establishing health clinics in rural communities, better known as rural health clinics. A rural health clinic is a primary care clinic located in a non-urbanized area that has been shown to have a shortage of healthcare services or providers. Rural health clinics function as a team approach of physicians working with non-physician providers such as nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA) and certified nurse midwives (CNM) to provide services.

Although establishing a rural health clinic is a lengthy and challenging process, once certified, the clinic serves as a large portion of the safety net for our rural residents in Louisiana. Providing quality healthcare and services to rural communities, rural health clinics also provide recruitment and retention of healthcare providers and ongoing contributions to the long-term economic and health factors of rural and underserved areas.

Types of Rural Health Clinics

Rural health clinic regulations distinguish between independent and provider-based clinics. The independent rural health clinic is a freestanding practice that is not part of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or home health agency. The provider-based rural health clinic is an integral and subordinate part of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or home health agency.

Benefits of Rural Health Clinics

• Access to primary care that would otherwise be limited or non-existent
• Provides local basic emergency care and life-saving services
• Combats physician shortages by using mid-level providers

Determining Rural Health Clinic Eligibility

Well-Ahead Louisiana advises to confirm the potential rural health clinic location to ensure it meets rural and HPSA requirements. Well-Ahead uses these sources to verify the address is in a rural/HPSA area:

• RHIhub: Am I Rural? Tool
• Find Shortage Area by Address
• S. Census American Finder

Using the Am I Rural? Tool

1. Visit RHIhub’s online Am I Rural? Tool.
2. Enter the full address of the potential RHC location and click the “Locate” button.
3. A map of the location will appear. Click on the “Run Report” button.
4. Scroll down to the “Program Eligibility” section of the report.
   1. If “CMS – Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program” is listed as YES, move to step 5.
   2. If “CMS – Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program” is listed as NO, this address does not qualify for RHC designation.
5. Scroll down to the “Shortage Destinations” section of the report.
   1. If “Primary Care” is listed as YES, view the “Last Updated” date.
      1. If the date is within the last 3 years, the address qualifies for RHC designation.
      2. If the date is not within the last 3 years, the HPSA will need to be renewed in order to qualify. Email Beth.Butler@la.gov to request an updated HPSA designation.
   2. If “Primary Care” is listed as NO, this address does not qualify for RHC designation.

If an address indicates YES for both the “CMS – Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program” and “Primary Care,” it can proceed with the RHC designation process. A formal Site Verification Letter should be requested when a clinic is ready to submit their license to the Health Standards Section of the Louisiana Department of Health. A Site Verification Letter will be considered invalid 6 months after its issue date.