Since 2010, 138 rural hospitals have closed — with a record-breaking 19 hospitals closing in 2020 alone. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a new proposed rule seeking to protect access to emergency care and additional outpatient services for people in rural communities, reports Healthcare Innovation.
CMS is establishing the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). The proposed rule will allow small rural hospitals to seek this new provider designation and provide continued access to emergency services, observation care, and additional medical and outpatient services.
Conversion to an REH allows for the provision of emergency services, observation care, and additional medical and health outpatient services, if elected by the REH, that do not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours. Read more.
