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:

• Allowing small hospitals the flexibility to reconfigure their operations, particularly for acute inpatient care as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
• 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.

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:

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

The decision for a hospital to seek designation and certification as a CAH is local and should be supported by a community needs assessment and financial feasibility study. The Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is the CAH designating authority in the state of Kansas. KDHE contracts with KHA to provide technical assistance to hospitals in the conversion process. Facilities wishing to apply for Critical Access Hospital certification should contact KHA. KHA will provide an application package, along with program information and assistance. To request an application, contact Chad Austin with KHA at (785) 233-7436.