Emergency Services

50.3 - Emergency Services (Rev. 12832; Issued: 09-12-24; Effective:01-01-24; Implementation:10-14-24) RHCs provide outpatient services that are typically furnished in a physician’s office or outpatient clinic and generally provide only limited emergency care. Neither independent nor hospital-based RHCs are subject to Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act regulations. However, RHC practitioners are required to provide medical emergency procedures as a first response to common life threatening injuries and acute illnesses and to have available the drugs and biologicals commonly used in life-saving procedures. The definition of a “first response” is a service that is commonly provided in a physician’s office. If a patient presents at the RHC with an emergency when the RHC is not open for patient care because a physician, NP, PA, CNM, CP, CSW, MFT or MHC is not present, other staff may attend to the patient until care of the individual can be transferred. Any care provided in this situation must be within the individual’s ability, training, and scope of practice, and in accordance with state laws, and would not be considered an RHC service. During their regular hours of operations, FQHC practitioners are required to provide medical procedures as a first response to common life threatening injuries and acute illnesses and to have available the drugs and biologicals commonly used in life-saving procedures. After their operating hours, FQHCs must provide telephone access to an individual who has the qualifications and training to exercise professional judgment in assessing a patient’s need for emergency medical care, and if appropriate, to refer the patient to an appropriate provider or facility that is open. Additional information on emergency preparedness requirements for RHCs and FQHCs can be found 42 CFR 491.12.