The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on additional reforms to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program. The Commission states that the proposed changes are intended to reduce administrative burdens, cut program red tape, and help ensure that limited RHC support is directed to rural health care providers as participation and demand for funding continue to grow.
Among other issues, the FCC seeks comment on clarifying how “similar services” and “comparable rural areas” should be identified when determining rural rates under the program, reducing burdens associated with the cost-study methodology for setting rural rates, encouraging the use of lower-cost backup services, and creating an RHC eligible services list modeled in part on the E-Rate program.
