This page provides basic information about being certified as a Medicare Critical Access Hospital (CAH) provider and includes links to applicable laws, regulations, and compliance information.

The Critical Access Hospital program is a United States federal program established in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act. The program aims to offer small hospitals in rural areas to serve residents that would otherwise be a long distance from emergency care.

Jan 15, 2025 · Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are located in 45 states across the U.S. and the Flex Monitoring team tracks and regularly updates CAH locations. This page contains a list of CAHs with the most current data.

Aug 22, 2007 · Resources, information and frequently asked questions related to the requirements and benefits of the rural Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program. Covers legislation affecting CAHs, CAH regulations related to Medicare and Medicaid, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, and more.

Section 1820 of the Social Security Act establishes Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Programs (MRHFPs) that allow individual states to designate certain facilities as critical access hospitals (CAHs).

The Joint Commission has been accrediting hospitals for over 70 years and critical access hospitals (CAH) for more than 20 years. Currently, The Joint Commission accredits about 30% of all CAHs in the U.S. Approximately 70% of accredited CAHs are accredited by …

Nov 26, 2019 · Critical access hospitals (CAHs) provide essential access to high-quality healthcare in rural communities. They represent more than 2/3 of all rural hospitals and are vital for ensuring the health of communities that may not have access to larger facilities.

Provides 24-hour emergency services, 7 days a week, using either on-site or on-call staf, with specific on-site, on-call staf response times. Doesn’t exceed 25 inpatient beds also used for swing bed services. It may operate either a distinct part rehabilitation or …

Mar 20, 2024 · A Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a hospital in a federal program established in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act designed to promote rural health planning, network development, and improve access to health services for rural residents.

Sep 17, 2024 · Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are vital in delivering healthcare services to the approximately 60 million Americans living in rural areas. By providing essential inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services, CAHs often become the main point of care for underserved communities located far from larger medical centers.