FQHC services are covered when provided in outpatient settings only, including a patient’s place of residence, which may be a skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility, other institution used as a patient’s home, or are hospice attending physician services furnished during a hospice election.
FQHC services are not covered in a hospital, as defined in section 1861(e)(1) of the Act.
SOURCE: Code of Federal Regulation, Title 42, Sec. 405.2446, (Accessed Jul. 2025).
Visiting nurse services is covered under the following circumstances:
- The RHC or FQHC is located in an area in which the Secretary has determined that there is a shortage of home health agencies.
- The services are rendered to a homebound individual.
- The services are furnished by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse that is employed by, or receives compensation for the services from the RHC or FQHC.
- The services are furnished under a written plan of treatment. See regulation for more details.
SOURCE: Code of Federal Regulation, Title 42, Sec. 405.2416, (Accessed Jul. 2025).
On March 27, 2020, Congress signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Section 3704 of the CARES Act authorized RHCs and FQHCs to provide distant site telehealth services to Medicare patients during the COVID-19 PHE. Section 4113 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, extended this authority through December 31, 2024.
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Any health care practitioner working within their scope of practice can provide distant site telehealth services. Practitioners can provide distant site telehealth services – approved by Medicare as a distant site telehealth service under the physician fee schedule (PFS) – from any location in the United States (see 42 CFR 411.9(a)(1)), including their home, during the time that they’re employed by or under contract with the RHC or FQHC.
SOURCE: CMS, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 13 Update, 4/21/25, pg. 47, (Accessed Jul. 2025).
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