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What is a Critical Access Hospital?
A Critical Access Hospital (CAH) must meet the following criteria
- Is a rural public or nonprofit hospital located in a state that has established a Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.
- Is located more than a 35-mile drive from any other hospital or CAH or certified by the state as being a necessary provider of healthcare services to residents in the area.
- Makes available 24-hour emergency care services.
- Provides not more than 15 beds for acute (hospital-level) inpatient care. (An exception to the 15-bed requirement is made for swing-bed facilities, which are allowed to have up to 25 inpatient beds that can be used interchangeably for acute care.)
- Keeps each inpatient for no longer than 96 hours, unless a longer period is required because of inclement weather or other emergency conditions.
