Frontier Extended Stay Clinic Demonstration

The Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) demonstration, allows remote clinics to treat patients for more extended periods than are entailed in routine physician visits, including overnight stays. According to the legislation, a clinic must be located in a community that is at least 75 miles from the nearest acute care hospital or critical access hospital, or that is inaccessible by public road. The law mandates that the project last for 3 years. The law allows waiver of provisions of the Medicare program as are necessary to conduct the demonstration project. The FESC will address the needs of seriously or critically ill or injured patients who, due to adverse weather conditions or other reasons, cannot be transferred to acute care hospitals, or patients who need monitoring and observation for a limited period of time, but do not require hospitalization. Conditions of participation developed for the demonstration identify the criteria by which patients would be eligible for FESC services, what practitioners are eligible to participate in the treatment of an extended stay patient and how soon they must arrive at the facility, specific life safety requirements, and other types of rules that govern providers.