March 1, 2022
Stevens Community Medical Center (SCMC) Morris Clinic recently achieved Medicare-certified rural health clinic designation after completing a rigorous inspection.
Congress passed the Rural Health Clinic Services Act in December 1977 and the purpose of the Act was to increase the availability and accessibility of primary health care services through the increased use of advanced practice providers such as physician assistants (PA’s) and nurse practitioners (NP’s). The Act promotes an expanded role for the PAs and NPs in the health care delivery system for rural, medically underserved areas.
Our patients will continue to receive the same quality care they have been receiving at SCMC Morris Clinic. This designation will result in a change regarding how claims will be billed and paid for by Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare pays Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) a bundled payment, or All-Inclusive Rate (AIR) per visit, for qualified primary care and preventive health services provided by an RHC practitioner.
The staff of SCMC Morris Clinic are proud of becoming a certified Rural Health Clinic. This accomplishment further demonstrates our dedication to providing high-quality, cost-effective health care services to the residents of Morris and surrounding communities.
Due to this change, you may have experienced a delay in the processing of your clinic visit claims recently. Thank you for your patience as we transition to this new designation.