Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modernize provisions relating to rural health clinics under Medicare. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act 2. Modernizing physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner utilization requirements Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) (1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking has an arrangement meets the requirements described in paragraph (8); (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8) Requirements for certain facilities described For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), with respect to a facility which is not a physician-directed clinic, the following requirements are described in this paragraph: (A) Arrangement The facility has an arrangement consistent with the provisions of State and local law relative to the practice, performance, and delivery of health services, with one or more physician assistants (as defined in paragraph (5)(A)) or one or more nurse practitioners (as defined in such paragraph). (B) Practice and oversight requirements The delivery of health services under such arrangement shall be in accordance with State law or the State regulatory mechanism governing the practice of physician assistants or nurse practitioners. . 3. Removing outdated laboratory requirements Section 1861(aa)(2)(G) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(2)(G) , including clinical laboratory services additional diagnostic services and has prompt access to clinical laboratory services and additional diagnostic services 4. Allowing rural health clinics the flexibility to contract with physician assistants and nurse practitioners Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) or contracts with (iii) employs 5. Urbanized area fix Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) (i) is located in an area that is not an urbanized area (i) is located in an area that is not in an urban area of 50,000 or more 6. Exception to behavioral health limitation Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) , except in the case where the facility is located in an area that is designated (under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) as a mental health professional shortage area 7. Effective date This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2024, and shall apply to items and services furnished on or after such date.

Summary: Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act This bill makes a series of changes to requirements that apply to rural health clinics under Medicare. For example, the bill allows rural health clinics that are not directed by physicians to enter into arrangements with physician assistants or nurse practitioners that generally comply with state laws (regarding scope of practice), rather than other specific requirements. It also specifies that rural health clinics (1) need only have prompt access to clinical laboratory services (as opposed to having to directly provide these services); (2) must be located in a non-urban area with a population that is less than 50,000; (3) may contract with (as opposed to employ) physician assistants or nurse practitioners; and (4) may primarily provide mental health services if located in a designated mental health professional shortage area.