Dynamic List Information
Dynamic List Data
Title
Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Changes in Regulations for Primary Care Services and Laboratory Requirements
Memo #
QSO-25-27-RHC
Posting Date
2025-09-26
Fiscal Year
2025
Title
Memorandum Summary
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revising the survey process following regulatory updates to 42 CFR Part 491 – Provision of Services:
• Updated Process for Provision of Services – Surveyors will no longer review if Rural Health Centers (RHCs) are “primarily engaged” in the delivery of primary care,
• RHCs are no longer required to provide hemoglobin and hematocrit testing or examination of stool specimens for occult blood.
• RHCs do not have to perform "primary culturing" on site, but they are required to collect specimens for culture and transmit them to a certified lab.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revising the survey process following regulatory updates to 42 CFR Part 491 – Provision of Services:
• Updated Process for Provision of Services – Surveyors will no longer review if Rural Health Centers (RHCs) are “primarily engaged” in the delivery of primary care,
• RHCs are no longer required to provide hemoglobin and hematocrit testing or examination of stool specimens for occult blood.
• RHCs do not have to perform "primary culturing" on site, but they are required to collect specimens for culture and transmit them to a certified lab.