Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Jul 1, 2019 - The U.S. House of Representatives will consider the HEARTS and Rural Relief Act after it advanced from the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill would delay a Medicare rule for rural and Critical Access Hospitals requiring certain providers to be on site. It also provides Medicare coverage for a more accurate prostate cancer screening method, allows service members on Social Security Disability Insurance to maintain TRICARE coverage, and more.
Source: Alabama Political Reporter
Jun 24, 2019 - After closing on February 14, Washington County Hospital in rural North Carolina reopened on May 1. The county worked with a bankruptcy judge to restore the hospital's operations. During its closure, the county emergency medical services transported people to hospitals outside the area.
Source: County News
Jun 21, 2019 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requesting comments on an information collection extension that will be used to score and rank the selection of small rural hospitals that will receive on-site technical assistance as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition Project (SRHT). Comments are due August 20, 2019.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 18, 2019 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) correcting technical errors in a May 3, 2019 proposed rule. Includes corrections to the language explaining base operating DRG payment amounts for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 11, 2019 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extending the timeline for the final rule, Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospital and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Changes to Promote Innovation, Flexibility, and Improvement in Patient Care, until June 16, 2020. The final rule will update requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals to participate in Medicare and Medicaid in regards to quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI), infection control and antibiotic stewardship, licensed independent practitioners, and ordering privileges in CAHs for dietitians and nutrition professionals.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 3, 2019 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a change in how Medicare payments are calculated that is intended to increase reimbursement for rural hospitals. Rural hospitals are hoping it will help address disparities in payments under the current wage index rule that provides lower payments to hospitals in areas with lower median wages.
Source: Kaiser Health News
May 30, 2019 - The Health Resources and Services Administration's cycle for the 2019 National Health Service Corp New Site Application has been extended to June 13, 2019. The program has expanded eligibility to include facilities that provide general substance use disorder treatment, medication assisted treatment, and/or opioid treatment services.
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
May 29, 2019 - The National Rural Health Association announced the top 20 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the U.S. The hospitals will receive their awards at the Critical Access Hospital Conference in September and were selected based on the Hospital Strength Index and 8 performance indicators.
Source: National Rural Health Association
May 23, 2019 - Page Memorial Hospital in Virginia serves an important role in its community, and like many rural hospitals, this Critical Access Hospital faced near closure. They avoided it through a merger with a larger medical group and started adding services to help make their care more accessible.
Source: Radio IQ
May 23, 2019 - The Rural Health Care Access Act of 2019 was introduced today by Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Mark Green (R-TN). The legislation would remove the requirement that rural hospitals must be at least 35 miles from another hospital to qualify for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation. Tennessee has had more rural hospital closures than any other state except Texas and many rural Mississippi hospitals are also at risk of closure.
Source: Office of Congressman Mark Green
Last Updated: 7/1/2019