Physician Time Required on Site

Except as specified in 130 CMR 405.407(A) and (B), a CHC must have at least one licensed physician on site during its hours of operation to treat medical problems outside the expertise of other health practitioners on the CHC's staff. This physician may leave the CHC for limited periods to visit CHC patients in their homes, in hospitals, or in nursing facilities; but they must be on call to the CHC during such periods. (A) CHCs that are located in isolated rural areas where no licensed physician is available on a regular basis within a 20-mile radius and that have a licensed physician on call during all hours of operation may apply to the MassHealth agency’s Program Specialist for community health centers for a waiver of this requirement. (B) CHCs that employ family practitioners on site may substitute family practitioners for other specialists who are unavailable due to the center's geographic isolation, but whose specialized services must be provided on site. These specialties include pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and internal medicine.