Return to
PHYSICIANS

Return to
Home

Foundations Family Medicine
Family Practice, Pediatrics & Obstetrics
For More Information,
call 794-8100

     It is sometimes difficult for Medicare, Medicaid and low-income families to secure a primary care physician. Government procedures and additional paperwork force most physician offices to limit the number of these patients in their care.

     Two Scott County physician offices have stepped up to help solve this problem. Foundations Family Medicine in Austin and St. Luke’s Medical Ministry in Scottsburg have been converted to Federally Approved Rural Health Clinics.

     Rural Health Clinics are dedicated to improving the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural under served areas through the Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program.

     The RHC Program was developed in response to the unmet needs of Medicare and Medicaid recipients in underserved areas of rural America. In the RHC Program, the federal government crafted a plan to encourage physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physicians to practice together in rural areas. Today, rural health clinics are an integral part of the health care delivery systems, with over 3000 federally certified rural health clinics providing primary care services for 7 million people in 47 states.

      Rural Health Clinics must undergo and pass a very detailed quality and safety survey administered by the state of Indiana. They must also be staffed by at least one nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA), or certified nurse midwife (CNM). The NP, PA, or CNM must be on-site to see patients at least 50% of the time the clinic is open. A physician (MD or DO) must supervise the midlevel practitioner in a manner consistent with state and federal law.

     The RHC Program guidelines show that having a solid medical doctor interact with the NP makes a great option for patients.
By following Federal requirements, RHCs receive special Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement based on allowable costs. The clinics must also provide out-patient primary care services and basic laboratory services.

     Patients in medically under-served areas often neglect health care until they have an serious illness or injury. The RHC Program offers these patients the opportunity to follow a wellness plan with their physician and nurse practitioner before their health is in a crisis situation.