Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) provide primary care services to individuals in medically underserved rural areas.
Services at RHCs are provided by physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants and include primary care as well as other medically needed services. The clinics offer services on-site and also refer patients to hospitals for referrals and/or admissions.
RHCs are not licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but may be certified for participation in the federal Medicare program.
RHCs are certified for participation in the Medicare program. The Federal Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) determines if the location of the clinic meets Medicare eligibility criteria of being in a designated medically underserved area.