Effingham Health System announced that three of its primary practice locations have received designation by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) as rural health clinics.

In 1977, Congress passed the Rural Health Clinic Act, or Public Law 95-210, to address the lack of access to primary medical care in rural communities. In addition, this law focused on increasing the utilization of mid-level practitioners in underserved areas.

Each of these office locations — Rincon, Goshen and Springfield — will have a full-time nurse practitioner or physician assistant, and a physician available to see patients during regular office hours. Effingham Health System will continue to accept Medicare, Medicaid, PeachCare, AmeriGroup, WellCare and commercial insurances as it does currently. Medicare patients will be subject to their Part B Medicare deductible.

To learn more about the rural health clinic program, visit www.cms.hhs.gov.

For more information on Effingham Health System, visit www.effinghamhealth.org.