[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR485.604]

[Page 598-599]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
  CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
                  HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 485_CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: SPECIALIZED PROVIDERS--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart F_Conditions of Participation: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
 
Sec. 485.604  Personnel qualifications.

    Staff that furnish services in a CAH must meet the applicable 
requirements of this section.
    (a) Clinical nurse specialist. A clinical nurse specialist must be a 
person who performs the services of a clinical nurse specialist as 
authorized by the State, in accordance with State law or the State 
regulatory mechanism provided by State law.
    (b) Nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner must be a registered 
professional nurse who is currently licensed to practice in the State, 
who meets the State's requirements governing the qualification of nurse 
practitioners, and who meets one of the following conditions:
    (1) Is currently certified as a primary care nurse practitioner by 
the American Nurses' Association or by the National Board of Pediatric 
Nurse Practitioners and Associates.
    (2) Has successfully completed a 1 academic year program that--
    (i) Prepares registered nurses to perform an expanded role in the 
delivery of primary care;
    (ii) Includes at least 4 months (in the aggregate) of classroom 
instruction and a component of supervised clinical practice; and
    (iii) Awards a degree, diploma, or certificate to persons who 
successfully complete the program.
    (3) Has successfully completed a formal educational program (for 
preparing registered nurses to perform an expanded role in the delivery 
of primary care) that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) 
of this section, and has been performing an expanded role in the 
delivery of primary care for a total of 12 months during the 18-month 
period immediately preceding June 25, 1993.
    (c) Physician assistant. A physician assistant must be a person who 
meets the applicable State requirements governing the qualifications for 
assistants to primary care physicians, and who meets at least one of the 
following conditions:
    (1) Is currently certified by the National Commission on 
Certification of Physician Assistants to assist primary care physicians.

[[Page 599]]

    (2) Has satisfactorily completed a program for preparing physician 
assistants that--
    (i) Was at least one academic year in length;
    (ii) Consisted of supervised clinical practice and at least 4 months 
(in the aggregate) of classroom instruction directed toward preparing 
students to deliver health care; and
    (iii) Was accredited by the American Medical Association's Committee 
on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.
    (3) Has satisfactorily completed a formal educational program (for 
preparing physician assistants) that does not meet the requirements of 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section and has been assisting primary care 
physicians for a total of 12 months during the 18-month period 
immediately preceding June 25, 1993.

[58 FR 30671, May 26, 1993, as amended at 62 FR 46037, Aug. 29, 1997]