PDFWAC 182-549-1100

Rural health clinics—Definitions.

This section contains definitions of words and phrases that apply to this chapter. Unless defined in this chapter, the definitions found in chapter 182-500 WAC apply.
"APM index" - The agency uses the alternative payment methodology (APM) to update APM encounter payment rates on an annual basis. The APM index is a measure of input price changes experienced by Washington's federally qualified health center (FQHC) and rural health clinic (RHC) providers. The index is derived from the federal medicare economic index (MEI).
"Base year" - The year that is used as the benchmark in measuring an RHC's total reasonable costs for establishing base encounter rates.
"Cost center" - A category of service approved to be provided by the RHC under WAC 182-549-1200 and reported in the medicare cost report and supplemental documentation. The categories of services to be provided by the RHC may include medical and dental.
"Encounter" - A face-to-face or telemedicine (including audio-only telemedicine) visit between an encounter-eligible client and an RHC provider who exercises independent judgment when providing services that qualify for encounter rate reimbursement.
"Encounter-eligible client" - A client who receives benefits under Title XIX (medicaid) or Title XXI (CHIP).
"Encounter rate" - A cost-based, facility-specific rate for covered RHC services.
"Enhancements (also called managed care enhancements or supplemental payments)" - A monthly amount the agency pays to RHCs through a managed care organization (MCO) that has contracted with the RHC to provide services to clients enrolled with the MCO. The enhancement is in addition to the negotiated payment that RHCs receive from the MCO. RHCs participating in the payment method described in WAC 182-549-1450 (7)(b) do not receive enhancements.
"Fee-for-service" - A payment method the agency uses to pay providers for covered medical services provided to Washington apple health clients, which excludes services provided by the agency's contracted managed care organizations and services that qualify for an encounter payment.
"Interim rate" - The rate the agency establishes to pay an RHC for covered RHC services prior to the establishment of a permanent rate for that RHC.
"Medicare cost report" - The cost report is a statement of costs and provider utilization that occurred during the time period covered by the cost report. RHCs must complete and submit a report annually to medicare.
"Medicare economic index (MEI)" - An index published in the Federal Register used in the calculation of changes to determine allowed charges for physician services. The agency adjusts RHC encounter rates and enhancement rates by the MEI each year on January 1st.
"Mobile unit" - The objects, equipment, and supplies necessary for provision of the services furnished directly by the RHC are housed in a mobile structure.
"Permanent unit" - The objects, equipment, and supplies necessary for the provision of the services furnished directly by the RHC are housed in a permanent structure.
"Rebasing" - The process of recalculating encounter rates using actual cost report data.
"Rural area" - An area that is not delineated as an urbanized area by the U.S. Census Bureau.
"Rural health clinic (RHC)" - A clinic, as defined in 42 C.F.R. 405.2401(b), that is primarily engaged in providing RHC services and is:
• Located in a rural area designated as a shortage area as defined under 42 C.F.R. 491.2;
• Certified by medicare as an RHC in accordance with applicable federal requirements; and
• Not a rehabilitation agency or a facility primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases.
"Rural health clinic (RHC) services" - Outpatient or ambulatory care of the nature typically provided in a physician's office or outpatient clinic or similar setting, including specified types of diagnostic examination, laboratory services, and emergency treatments. The specific list of services which must be made available by the clinic can be found under 42 C.F.R. Part 491.9.
[Statutory Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1396a(bb), 42 U.S.C. 1396d (2)(A), RCW 41.05.021, and 41.05.160. WSR 22-22-049, § 182-549-1100, filed 10/27/22, effective 1/1/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 20-02-070, § 182-549-1100, filed 12/26/19, effective 1/26/20; WSR 18-10-058, § 182-549-1100, filed 4/27/18, effective 5/28/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2017 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 213(1)(ll). WSR 17-22-070, § 182-549-1100, filed 10/27/17, effective 1/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 15-11-008, § 182-549-1100, filed 5/7/15, effective 6/7/15. WSR 11-14-075, recodified as § 182-549-1100, filed 6/30/11, effective 7/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.510, 74.09.522, 42 U.S.C. 1396a(bb), 42 C.F.R. 405.2472, and 42 C.F.R. 491. WSR 10-09-030, § 388-549-1100, filed 4/13/10, effective 5/14/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.510, 74.09.522, 42 C.F.R. 405.2472, 42 C.F.R. 491. WSR 08-05-011, § 388-549-1100, filed 2/7/08, effective 3/9/08.]