CMS made two separate moves to support Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, on April 17, 2020, by issuing MLN SE20016 which makes changes to billing requirements and payments, including:

• New payment for telehealth services, including how to bill Medicare
• Expansion of virtual communication services
• Revision of home health agency shortage requirement for visiting nursing services
• Consent for care management and virtual communication services
• Accelerated/advance payments
  Then, on April 21, 2020, CMS announced the following blanket waivers for RHCs and FQHCs:
• Waived the requirement that a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife be available to furnish patient care services at least 50 percent of the time that the RHC or FQHC operates
• Modified the requirement that physicians provide medical supervision of nurse practitioners at RHCs and FQHCs, to the extent permitted by state law
• Removed the Medicare approval otherwise required for RHCs/FQHCs to provide services in more than one permanent location
  Additional details regarding these waivers are included in the RHC/FQHC section of the CMS Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers Fact Sheet.