The National Association of Rural Health Clinics is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to improving the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural under served areas through the Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program.
National Association of Rural Health Clinics promotes rural health clinics as a means of improving and sustaining the availability of quality, cost-effective health care to patients in rural, medically underserved areas. NARHC works with Congress, federal agencies, and rural health allies to expand and protect the interests of rural health clinics. NARHC members can become actively engaged in the legislative and regulatory process through the Association.
The Rural Health Clinics program was created in 1977 to address the unmet health care needs in rural America. Rural health clinics receive enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements which allow clinicians to live and practice in rural, underserved areas of the country. All rural health clinics must utilize the skills of a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner and focus on primary care.
Today, rural health clinics comprise an integral part of the nation’s health care delivery system. There are over 5,100 federally certified rural health clinics that provide primary care services to more than 8 million people in 45 states.
NARHC is a vital link between rural health clinics and federal legislators and regulators. We bring “real world” experience of rural health clinic practices to policy making and policymakers: