Rural Health Care
About Rural Health Care:
- Overview of the Program
- Overview of the Process
- Monthly Conference Calls
- Site Visits
- Understanding Audits
- Filing Appeals
- Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Rural Health Care Tools:
Step 4: Sign a Contract for Service
Prior to submitting a Funding Request and Certification Form (Form 466) or Internet Service Funding Request and Certification Form (Form 466-A), a health care provider must sign a contract with a service provider.
The health care provider or its authorized representative must not select a service provider or enter into a contract or purchase agreement with a service provider until at least 28 days after the Description of Services Requested and Certification Form (Form 465) is posted on the USAC website. This is the Allowable Contract Selection Date (ACSD).
A health care provider with existing service may continue to receive (non-supportable) service during the 28-day posting period, but must not select a service provider to continue the service beyond the ACSD until the ACSD has passed. Entering into an agreement prior to the ACSD could disqualify the HCP from receiving benefits under the Rural Health Care Program for services selected under those agreements.
If a health care provider signs a long-term contract after their ACSD, they will be exempt from the 28-day posting for the original term (no optional extensions) of the contract. However, applicants are encouraged to post Form 465 each year since relying on an expired or otherwise inadequate or non-binding contract to avoid the 28-day posting requirement could result in denial of support.
