What is a “Critical Access Hospital”?
What Makes Us A Critical Access Hospital
Antelope Memorial Hospital has been designated a Critical Access Hospital, as defined by the
Office of Rural Health Policy, part of The Health Resources & Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Program was established to aid in the continuation of healthcare services for rural residents.
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Aids in the continuation of health care services for rural residents
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Enables hospitals to be eligible for cost-based Medicare reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient services
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With a signed MOA, hospitals are eligible to receive enhanced reimbursement from Medicaid and the State Health Benefit Plan (SBHP)
A Critical Access Hospital:
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Can limit services and utilize physician assistants and /or nurse practitioners in an effort to reduce their loss
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May choose to maintain its current services; however, the hospital must agree to the bed size and annual impatient length of stay limits
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Provides small, rural hospitals with a range of opportunities for service enhancement, quality of care improvement, and certain economies of scale through network participation
Benefits:
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Receive enhanced Medicare reimbursement for covered in-patient services
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Receive 100% of allowable costs for Medicaid out-patient services
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Retain any Medicaid payment for inpatient services in excess of charges
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Receive 100% of charges for outpatient services by the State Health Benefit Plan and Board of Regents Health Plan
May enroll with SHBP as their group insurance provider.