Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs)

On November 23, 2022, CMS published a final rule, effective January 1, 2023, establishing initial policies for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) as a new Medicare provider type enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 11 released revised guidance regarding conditions of participation and the conversion process for eligible hospitals interested in participating in Medicare and Medicaid as a rural emergency hospital.
A collection of strategies for hospitals and health systems to prepare for and respond to various emergencies, enhancing their preparedness.
Since the rural emergency hospital designation became official last year, a growing number of rural care providers have voluntarily converted to the new category.
In this discussion, two rural health care leaders assess how the conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital is proceeding, and how to build trust and buy-in from patients and communities.
AHA submitted a statement May 8 to the House Ways and Means Committee for a markup session on proposed legislation impacting telehealth access for patients and rural access to care.