Overview: The Rural Emergency Medical Center Act of 2018

The American Hospital Association’s Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities issued a report in 2016, recommending Congress establish new models of care to provide communities options to protect and stabilize access to health care services. The Rural Emergency Medical Center (REMC) Act of 2018 would create a new designation under the Medicare program allowing hospitals meeting certain criteria to transition to a 24/7 emergency medical center with enhanced reimbursement and transportation to higher acuity facilities, as needed.