Section 16B-3-14 - Rural Emergency Hospital Act(a) Definitions - As used in this section: (1) "Critical Access Hospital" means a hospital that has been deemed eligible and received designation as a critical access hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).(2) "Rural Emergency Hospital" means a facility that: (A) Was a critical access hospital;(B) Does not provide acute care inpatient services; and(C) Provides, at a minimum, rural emergency hospital services.(3) "Rural Emergency Hospital Services" means emergency department services and observation care furnished by a rural emergency hospital that does not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours in such rural emergency hospital.(4) "Staffed Emergency Department" means an emergency department of a rural emergency hospital that meets the following requirements: (A) The emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and(B) A licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant is available to furnish rural emergency hospital services in the facility 24 hours a day.(b) A hospital located in an urban area (Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) county), can be considered rural for the purposes of a designation as a critical access hospital pursuant to U.S.C. §1395i-4(c)(2) if it meets the following criteria:(1) Is enrolled as both a Medicaid and Medicare provider and accepts assignment for all Medicaid and Medicare patients;(2) Provides emergency health care services to indigent patients;(3) Maintains 24-hour emergency services; and(4) Is located in a county that has a rural population of 50 percent or greater as determined by the most recent United States decennial census.(c) A critical access hospital may apply to be licensed as a rural emergency hospital if:(1) It has been designated as a critical access hospital for at least one year; and(2) It is designated as a critical access hospital at the time of application for licensure as a rural emergency hospital.(d) In addition to the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, rural emergency hospital shall, at a minimum: (1) Provide rural emergency hospital services through a staffed emergency department;(2) Treat all patients regardless of insurance status; and(3) Have in effect a transfer agreement with a Level I or Level II trauma center.(e) A rural emergency hospital may:(1) With respect to services furnished on an outpatient basis, provide other medical and health services as specified by the Inspector General through rulemaking; and(2) Include a unit of a facility that is a distinct part licensed as a skilled nursing facility to furnish post-hospital extended care services.(f) The Inspector General shall propose a rule for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of § 29A-3-1et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section.Added by 2024 Acts, ch. TBD (SB 300), eff. 2/8/2024.