For more information contact:
Diane Smith
Director,
Patient Safety and Care Transitions
(248) 465-7329
dsmith@mpro.org
About the Critical Access Hospital Program
The Critical Access Hospital Program (CAH) Program, created by Congress in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, is designed to support limited-service hospitals located in rural areas. A hospital must meet the following criteria to be designated a CAH:
- Located in a rural area.
- Provide 24-hour emergency care services.
- Average length of stay of 96 hours or less.
- More than 35 miles from a hospital or another CAH or more than 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads OR certified by the State as being a "necessary provider" of healthcare services to residents in the area. MMA, §405(h)--effective January 1, 2006, the provision permitting a State to waive the distance requirements for CAH status via State "necessary provider" designation will sunset. Providers with CAH status as "necessary providers" via State designation prior to January 1, 2006 will be grandfathered as CAHs on and after January 1, 2006.
- MMA, §405(e) --Beginning on January 1, 2004, CAHs may operate up to 25 beds for acute (hospital-level) inpatient care, subject to the 96-hour average length of stat for acute care patients. For CAHs with swing bed agreements, any of its beds may be used to furnish either inpatient acute care or swing bed services. Prior to January 1, 2004, CAHs could not operate more than 15 acute care beds or more than 25 beds if it includes up to 10 swing beds.
