CMS Proposes New Hospital Designation – Rural Emergency Hospital

Fierce Healthcare reports on a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule that outlines the conditions of participation for a facility to become a Rural Emergency Hospital, which enables a facility to offer emergency care, observation and other outpatient services.

The goal for the new designation, according to a fact sheet on the rule, is to enable small facilities in rural areas and critical access hospitals to “right-size their service footprint and avoid potential closure.”  An emergency hospital can offer additional medical and outpatient services that don’t exceed an annual per-patient average of 24 hours.

Read more:

• CMS Fact Sheet: Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and Critical Access Hospital COP Updates (CMS-3419-P)
• Fierce Healthcare: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/cms-proposal-details-how-become-new-rural-hospital-designation