Critical Access Hospitals

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) are vital for maintaining access to high-quality health care services in rural communities. Since established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the AHA has been a champion for its CAH members.

CAHs represent a quarter of all U.S. and more than two-thirds of all rural community hospitals. Securing the future of CAHs and the essential role they play in caring for rural America is of paramount importance. The AHA remains vigilant in the face of legislative, regulatory and policy proposals that threaten either the local delivery of care or rural community health status.

We advocate for CAH program improvements and enhancements as well as fixes to payment and administrative limitations that constrain the efficiency and effectiveness of these essential health care providers. AHA is deeply committed to ensuring that the needs of these safety-net hospitals are met through:

Representation and advocacy
Executive education, communication and management strategies
CEO and trustee engagement


Communications	Value of AHA Membership for CAHs Update Newsletters CMS CAH Fact Sheet The Fragile State of Critical Access Hospitals-- Infographic

Representation and Advocacy	CAH Legislative History

	Policy Priorities 340 B Drug Pricing Program Telehealth FCC Rural Health Care Program Infographics: Rural Hospitals 340 B Drug Savings Program What is 340 B? Swing-beds Ending Health Care Disparities AHA Blog Equity of Care

Tools and Resources	Using Patient Navigators to Improve Post-Acute Transitions Ending the Opioid Epidemic Assessing and Improving Community Health Engaging Patients and Communities in the CHNA Process Eliminating Harm Checklist Improving the Patient Care Experience Through the Health Care Physical Environment Triple Aim Strategies to Improve Behavioral Health Care and Payment Models to Achieve the Triple Aim Cybersecurity Workforce Center

Access to Care in Vulnerable Communities

For millions of Americans living in vulnerable rural and urban communities, their hospital is often the only source of care. However, many of these hospitals are fighting to survive – potentially leaving their communities at risk for losing access to health care services. The AHA'...

Rural Regulatory Policy

RULEMAKING AND REGULATORY POLICY Medicare policy changes and payment adjustments often have significant and problematic consequences for rural providers. AHA is sensitive to the administrative burden and cost created by rules that fail to consider the unique circumstances of small or...

FCC Rural Health Care Program

The Rural Health Care Program, which includes the new Healthcare Connect Fund, provides funding to eligible health care providers (HCPs) for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of heal...

Critical Access Hospitals

Explore Critical Access Hospitals Topics

Access to Care in Vulnerable Communities

Rural Regulatory Policy

FCC Rural Health Care Program

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