Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) & Frontier Extended Stay Clinics (FESCs)
Licensing, oversight, and monitoring of Alaska RHCs and FESCs
Overview
A Rural Health Clinic (RHC) is a facility or clinic that is authorized to provide health care services and is located in a rural area. This does not include a rehabilitation agency or a facility primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases.
A Frontier Extended-Stay Clinic (FESC) is an RHC that is authorized to provide 24-hour care to one or more individuals.
Who qualifies?
- RHCs and FESCs have a specialized licensing process in the state of Alaska.
- RHCs that meet federal requirements (see Resources, below) may be eligible for federal certification.
- FESCs do not have federal certification options.
How to sign up
Initial licensing
If you are interested in obtaining an initial license, please complete the following steps:
- Complete RHC/FESC Licensing Application packet
- Pay the associated provisional licensing fee
- Provide an electronic copy of all policies and procedures
Submit all requested information to Health Facility Licensing and Certification. Your application will be reviewed by our unit staff. We will work closely with you to ensure your application meets all the licensing requirements, followed by an onsite inspection.
Provisional licensing fee: $250 + $100/bed
Licensing applicationHow to use
Renew your application
To renew your license, please complete the RHC/FESC Licensing Application and pay the renewal fee. You must submit the required information to Health Facility Licensing and Certification before April 1 of even-numbered years.
Biennial renewal fee: $500 +$200/bed
Renewal applicationModify your application
If the facility needs to modify previously approved applications, a modification application and associated fee must be submitted to Health Facility Licensing and Certification.
Relocation fee: $250
Increase bed fee: $100 per bed
Miscellaneous modification fee: $250
Licensing modification applicationChange in administrative leadership
If the facility has a change in administrative leadership, a Change of Leadership form needs to be completed and submitted to Health Facility Licensing and Certification.
No associated fee
Leadership change formResources
Statutes and regulations
The following statutes and regulations apply to licensed RHCs/FESCs in the State of Alaska.
- Criminal Background Check 7 AAC 10.900 – 990
- General Variance Procedures 7 AAC 10.9500 – 9535
- Inspections and Investigations 7 AAC 10.9600 – 9620
- Frontier Extended Stay Clinics/Rural Health Clinics 7 AAC 12.450-487
- General Provisions 7 AAC 12.600 – 990
- Licensing Statute AS 47.32.010 - 900
In order to participate in Medicare, an RHC must meet federal requirements and be separately certified and approved. Federal requirements for RHCs are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These regulations can be found in the Medicare State Operations Manual Appendix.
Medicare State Operations Manual Appendix