Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a) A central
services facility rural health network (CSFRHN) shall be a not-for-profit
corporation established pursuant to article 28 of the Public Health Law, and
representative of health care providers within the network through board
representation, membership and written agreements or any combination thereof,
for the purpose of operating a rural health network. Such network board shall
also include representatives of the general public residing in the area served
by the central services facility rural health network.
(1) A CSFRHN may plan, and upon approval of
its network operational plan by the Commissioner of Health, coordinate, provide
or arrange for the provision of health care services to residents of the rural
area served by the network, may also perform administrative services for
providers participating in the network pursuant to such network operational
plan.
(i) At a minimum, the health care
services provided or arranged for by a CSFRHN shall include acute care,
comprehensive primary care, and emergency care.
(ii) A CSFRHN may provide or arrange for such
other medical, public health or health related services for which it or any
affiliated provider has received all requisite approvals.
(2) Administrative services performed on
behalf of participating providers must be provided in accordance with all
applicable requirements, including sections
405.3(f),
600.9(d) and
400.4 of this Title, and may
include, but need not be limited to, emergency medical services training,
credentialing, payroll, purchasing and billing services, recruitment of
qualified professionals, oversight and support of the network's communication,
medical transportation, quality assurance, risk management, peer review,
electronic data sharing, managed care systems oversight, performance of
studies, planning, and solicitation and acceptance of grants. Such services
shall be provided when necessary to effectuate the purposes of the CSFRHN and
only pursuant to written agreement between the parties.
(b) Service area. CSFRHNs shall serve a
specified rural area as identified in its network operational plan. Rural areas
are defined as any county with less than 200,000 persons or any town which has
a population of less than 200 persons per square mile, or, if approved by the
commissioner, any town which has a population of less than 250 persons per
square mile.
(i) The service area of a CSFRHN
shall encompass only the towns for which the network can assure the
availability of at least the minimum services defined in subparagraph (a)(1)(i)
of this section.
(ii) Providers
located outside of a CSFRHN service area may participate in a network if
determined by a CSFRHN to be capable of serving the residents of such rural
area comprising the CSFRHN's service area and agree in writing to comply with
the provisions of the network's operational plan. Residents of a service area
are not precluded from obtaining services from providers that are not
affiliated with a network.
