House Introduces RHC Bill for RN Annual Wellness Visits (H.R.3878)
Sarah Hohman, Director of Government Affairs, NARHC & Mo Sullivan, Government Affairs Associate, NARHC
NARHC is pleased to share news of the introduction of the Registered Nurses (RNs) for Rural Health Act (H.R.3878)!
Representatives Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03) introduced this bipartisan bill on June 10th, which would allow RNs at RHCs to conduct Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) and receive reimbursement from Medicare.
Currently, RNs at non-RHC facilities can conduct AWVs and be reimbursed by Medicare without another provider seeing the patient. However, in RHCs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires face-to-face visits with one of the following providers for RHC Medicare reimbursement: physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, clinical psychologists, and certified social workers.
This has created a long-standing disparity between these different facility types and does not allow RNs to work to the top of their license in RHCs.
NARHC has long been advocating for a fix to this outdated barrier, at both the legislative and regulatory levels through comments to CMS.
“Annual Wellness Visits are a critical tool in preventive and primary care delivery for Medicare beneficiaries,” says Sarah Hohman, NARHC Director of Government Affairs. “We thank Representatives Hinson and Scholten for their leadership on this issue - ensuring that RHCs have the same opportunities to offer and be reimbursed for critical wellness services as other outpatient providers.”
Ultimately, the RNs for Rural Health Act would promote equity amongst facility types and increases access for folks in rural communities. Please urge your House Member to support this bill by sending a message to them here!
