Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs).
The Rural Emergency Hospital Model: Year Two Progress Report
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Rural Emergency Hospitals Fact Sheet
Provides a brief overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation. Outlines REH payment, services, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for REH designation.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides a brief overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation. Outlines REH payment, services, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for REH designation.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Revised: Guidance for Rural Emergency Hospital Provisions, Conversion Process and Conditions of Participation
Provides guidance regarding the enrollment and conversion processes for facilities interested in participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs as a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Covers eligibility, enrollment, conversion action plans, action plans, and attestation. Includes answers to frequently asked questions about the REH program.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides guidance regarding the enrollment and conversion processes for facilities interested in participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs as a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Covers eligibility, enrollment, conversion action plans, action plans, and attestation. Includes answers to frequently asked questions about the REH program.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Voice of the REH CEO: Perspectives from Those Who Have Led Their Organizations Through REH Conversion
Summarizes interviews with executives from three hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status regarding their perspectives on conversion. Describes the assessment of the financial feasibility of REH status, preparation of the communities for conversion, staffing and service line adjustments, and the impact of conversion. Includes legislative considerations that could make REH status more attractive to rural hospitals.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Summarizes interviews with executives from three hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status regarding their perspectives on conversion. Describes the assessment of the financial feasibility of REH status, preparation of the communities for conversion, staffing and service line adjustments, and the impact of conversion. Includes legislative considerations that could make REH status more attractive to rural hospitals.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Is Rural Emergency Hospital the BEST Option for You?
Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Converting to Rural Emergency Hospitals
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Chief Executive Officers in New Mexico and Oklahoma regarding the conversion to REH status. Discusses the conversion process of each REH; how they built trust and buy-in from patients and communities, including state and federal policymakers; and financial considerations of conversion.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Chief Executive Officers in New Mexico and Oklahoma regarding the conversion to REH status. Discusses the conversion process of each REH; how they built trust and buy-in from patients and communities, including state and federal policymakers; and financial considerations of conversion.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy: Mandated Report: Rural Emergency Hospitals: Chapter 15
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Discusses the evolution of Medicare's support for rural hospitals through payment policies and the impact of declining inpatient volumes on rural hospitals' financial sustainability. Describes the characteristics of hospitals that converted to REH status in 2023, the first year of the designation.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Discusses the evolution of Medicare's support for rural hospitals through payment policies and the impact of declining inpatient volumes on rural hospitals' financial sustainability. Describes the characteristics of hospitals that converted to REH status in 2023, the first year of the designation.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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What Does It Mean to Be a Rural Emergency Hospital? Hear This Kansas CEO's Journey to An REH
Recording of a February 8, 2024, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services, and REH conversion timeline. Features a discussion with Jeff Bowman, Chief Executive Officer of South Central Kansas Medical Center, regarding the facility's conversion to REH status.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a February 8, 2024, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services, and REH conversion timeline. Features a discussion with Jeff Bowman, Chief Executive Officer of South Central Kansas Medical Center, regarding the facility's conversion to REH status.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Unrelenting Pressure Pushes Rural Safety Net Crisis Into Uncharted Territory
Examines financial and operational metrics for rural hospitals. Discusses the growth of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment in rural communities between 2019 and 2023, the impact of MA on rural hospital reimbursement, how the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can provide a path forward for some rural facilities, and the discontinuation of obstetrics and chemotherapy services at rural hospitals since 2011. Includes the percentage of rural hospitals in each state vulnerable to closure and nine factors significantly associated with rural hospital vulnerability.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Examines financial and operational metrics for rural hospitals. Discusses the growth of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment in rural communities between 2019 and 2023, the impact of MA on rural hospital reimbursement, how the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can provide a path forward for some rural facilities, and the discontinuation of obstetrics and chemotherapy services at rural hospitals since 2011. Includes the percentage of rural hospitals in each state vulnerable to closure and nine factors significantly associated with rural hospital vulnerability.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Last Updated: 10/15/2025