Rural Health Clinics

To qualify as a Rural Health Clinic (RHC), the clinic must be located in a non-urbanized area and a designated medically underserved area or designated population group or geographic health professional shortage area.

RHCs provide routine diagnostic and laboratory services and employ mid-level practitioners 50 percent of the time the clinic is open.

The State Office of Rural Health offers technical assistance to organizations considering RHC certification and those currently certified. In Idaho, the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, Bureau of Facility Standards is responsible for RHC certification.

Additional Information Sources:

National Association of Rural Health Clinics
Starting a Rural Health Clinic - (A How-to Manual from the Health Resources and Services Administration)
Rural Assistance Center

Program Documents

2011 Workshop Presentations:

National Associations of Rural Health Clinics Update
Rural Health Clinic: Billing - Basics
Rural Health Clinic: Billing - Advanced
RHC Legal Update
Noridian Update
Bureau of Facility Standards Update

2010 Workshop Presentations:

  National Associations of Rural Health Clinics Update
  Rural Health Clinic: Billing 101
  Medicaid Molina Update
  Rural Health Clinic: Billing 102
  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Legal Update

2009 Workshop Presentations:

Cahaba Financial Intermediary Information
Cahaba Inquiry Triage Process
Cahaba EDI Service Inquiries
Medicare Billing Fact Sheet for H1N1
HITECH and HIPAA
Noridian Medicare Part A Education for RHCs
Revenue Process Flow
Coding/Documentation for Physicians/Professional Services
Office Operations - Best Practices
Idaho Rural Health Clinic Map
Clinic Considerations for Provider Based Clinics, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Clinics
RHC Preventative Services Billing

State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

450 W. State St. – 4th Floor

P.O. Box 83720

Boise, Idaho 83720-0036

Phone: 208-334-0669

Fax: 208-332-7262

E-mail: RuralHealth@dhw.idaho.gov

External Resources

Area Health Education Center
This a link to the Idaho Area Health Education Center web page.

This a link to the Idaho Area Health Education Center web page.
CMS Critical Access Hospital Center
This is a link to the C M S Critical Access Hospital Center web page.

This is a link to the C M S Critical Access Hospital Center web page.
eHealth Initiative
The eHealth Initiative has partnered with MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, to release the results of the first survey to benchmark the influential role regional extension centers (RECs) are playing in electronic health record (EHR) adoption.

The eHealth Initiative has partnered with MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, to release the results of the first survey to benchmark the influential role regional extension centers (RECs) are playing in electronic health record (EHR) adoption.
EMS Toolkit
This is a link to help EMS agencies determine the "cost of turnover".

This is a link to help EMS agencies determine the "cost of turnover".
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
This is a link to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy web page.

This is a link to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy web page.
Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho
This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association's web page containing a map of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho.

This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association's web page containing a map of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho.
Health Literacy
A "how-to" guide to help Web managers and health professionals to: * write clear, actionable health content; * design user-friendly web sites, and * reach audiences with limited literacy skills and web experience.

A "how-to" guide to help Web managers and health professionals to: * write clear, actionable health content; * design user-friendly web sites, and * reach audiences with limited literacy skills and web experience.
Health Literacy Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help make your written materials easier for people to understand and use.

This toolkit is designed to help make your written materials easier for people to understand and use.
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designation Eligibility Criteria
This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration web page listing Health Professional Shortage Area designation criteria.

This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration web page listing Health Professional Shortage Area designation criteria.
Health Workforce Information Center
This is a link to the Health Workforce Information Center web page.

This is a link to the Health Workforce Information Center web page.
HRSA Community Health Status Indicators
This link compares county health indicators to the US and peer counties.

This link compares county health indicators to the US and peer counties.
Idaho Hospital Association
This is a link to the Idaho Hospital Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Hospital Association web page.
Idaho Medical Association
This is a link to the Idaho Medical Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Medical Association web page.
Idaho Primary Care Association
This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association web page.
Idaho Rural Health Association
This is a link to the Idaho Rural Health Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Rural Health Association web page.
Idaho Rural Outreach
This is a link to the Idaho Rural Outreach web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Rural Outreach web page.
Mountain States Group
This is a link to the Mountain States Group web page.

This is a link to the Mountain States Group web page.
MUA/MUP Areas of Idaho
This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration's web page with a search tool for locating Medically Underserved Areas and Populations.

This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration's web page with a search tool for locating Medically Underserved Areas and Populations.
National Health Service Corps
This is a link to the National Health Service Corps web page.

This is a link to the National Health Service Corps web page.
National Rural Health Association
This is a link to the National Rural Health Association web page.

This is a link to the National Rural Health Association web page.
National Rural Health Clinic Association
This is a link to the National Association of Rural Health Clinics web page.

This is a link to the National Association of Rural Health Clinics web page.
Noridian Administrative Services
This is a link to the Noridian Administrative Services web page.

This is a link to the Noridian Administrative Services web page.
Northwest Regional Primary Care Association
This is a link to the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association web page.

This is a link to the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association web page.
Qualis Health
This is a link to the Qualis Health web page.

This is a link to the Qualis Health web page.
Rural Assistance Center
This is a link to the Rural Assistance Center's web page for the state of Idaho.

This is a link to the Rural Assistance Center's web page for the state of Idaho.
Rural Health Research Centers
This is a link to the Rural Health Research Centers web page.

This is a link to the Rural Health Research Centers web page.
Rural Physician Incentive Program
Rural Physician Incentive Program

Rural Physician Incentive Program
Stratis Health
Toolkits provided by Stratis Health who is working to advance e-health and health information technology (HIT) across the settings of care.

Toolkits provided by Stratis Health who is working to advance e-health and health information technology (HIT) across the settings of care.
U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is offering health providers patient guides in Spanish or English on a variety of health topics.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is offering health providers patient guides in Spanish or English on a variety of health topics.
USDA - Idaho Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development local Idaho Chapter.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development local Idaho Chapter.
Veteran's Crisis Line