Good morning NRHA members,
NRHA is excited to share that yesterday, Senator Moran (R-KS) and Senator Smith (D-MN) introduced S. 4322, the Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act. This bill incorporates many technical improvements to the REH statute that NRHA members have brought to our attention. These fixes include:
Allow previously closed rural hospitals to re-open and apply for the Rural Emergency Hospital designation if they can demonstrate they met all eligibility requirements between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 27, 2020.
Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a waiver program for facilities operating similarly to an REH in order to convert to an REH.
Allow REH facilities to maintain or create a unit for inpatient psychiatric care, obstetric care and allow for limited inpatient rehabilitation services.
Require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide additional funding for laboratory services.
Clarify that REH facilities are eligible for Small Rural Hospital Improvement grants.
Direct the Secretary of HHS to allow an REH to be eligible as a National Health Service Corp site.
Authorize REH facilities to transfer patients from acute care to a Skilled Nursing Facility without leaving the hospital, in accordance with the Social Security Act.
Allow an REH facility to revert back to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) to regain necessary provider status, only if the facility was designated a necessary provider prior to converting to REH.
We are pleased to see this legislation introduced and are working towards a House companion bill as well. You can find a one pager and section-by-section summary of the bill attached.
Please reach out to me with any questions!
Best,
Alexa
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Alexa McKinley Abel
National Rural Health Association
Government Affairs & Policy Director
Washington, DC
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