Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call Minutes
September 11, 2003

RHCD anticipates a new Order for the Rural Health Care Support Mechanism from the FCC by the end of 2003. As a result, the current projected date for opening the filing window for Funding Year 2003 Form 465s is late in the first quarter of 2004. This will allow RHCD time to implement any administrative changes required by the new rules decided.

Form 466/468 “packets” for Funding Year 2002 (July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003) are due to RHCD by October 8. Packets must be postmarked by that date or risk losing funding. RHCD has received approximately 2200 packets so far – a new record – and completed processing on 1900. It is estimated that another 200 have yet to be submitted. RHCD has conducted outreach to notify applicants if no packet has yet been received; any questions about completing the packets can be directed to the Customer Service Support Center at 1-800-229-5476.

RHCD will commence processing of Funding Year 2003 Form 466s as early as mid-September on a limited basis. Thus far, about 500 packets have been received. Please make sure that you submit appropriate documentation for your rural rate, urban rate (if necessary), and bid documentation (if necessary). Documentation for multiple HCP numbers in the same consortium may be combined in a single mailing, as long as they are labeled. Users who e-certify their 466 online may use the tracking number provided in the confirmation e-mail.

To document rural rates, RHCD accepts bills or a letter from a carrier representative, as long as it contains the service type, the cost, and the name of the health care provider. For large bills, please indicate the rate being documented by circling the appropriate rate in pen or pencil — do not highlight the rate, as this makes it difficult for RHCD to capture the correct information.