Critical Access Hospitals

The Critical Access Hospital program is part of a larger federal program, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) program. The FLEX program is administered by the Kansas Rural Health Options Project (KRHOP). KRHOP is a partnership of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Office of Local and Rural Health, the Kansas Hospital Association, the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services and the Kansas Medical Society.

The FLEX program is a major national initiative to strengthen rural health care by:

• Offering cost-based reimbursement for Medicare acute inpatient and outpatient services.
• Encouraging the development of rural health networks.
• Offering grants to states to help implement a state FLEX program in the context of broader initiatives to strengthen the rural health care infrastructure.

For more information regarding the Critical Access Hospital Program, contact Chad Austin at (785) 233-7436.

Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Networks

Critical Access Hospitals are facilities designated by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS provides CAHs with:

• Relaxed staffing requirements in comparison to full-service hospitals; and
• Federal grant assistance for prospective CAHs and designated network.

Click here to view a map of the state designated Rural Health Networks in Kansas. Facilities wishing to obtain additional information about Critical Access Hospital certification or techincal assistance should contact KHA at (785) 233-7436.