A new Medicare classification would be created for rural emergency care hospitals that don’t have inpatient beds under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) on Wednesday.
The Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital (REACH) Act would establish a “Rural Emergency Hospital” Medicare classification for facilities that provide only emergency and outpatient services, creating an alternative to the Critical Access Hospital classification that requires inpatient beds.
“Coloradans living in rural communities should not be denied access to health care simply because they do not live in a large metropolitan area,” Gardner said. “This common sense, bipartisan legislation provides rural hospitals an option to continue providing emergency services to rural America even if they do not meet Medicare’s criteria for inpatient beds. During an emergency, time is of the essence, and it is critical that we maintain access to life-saving treatment regardless of your zip code.”
Inpatient bed requirements for Critical Access Hospitals can strap rural providers that struggle to generate enough patients to maintain them, contributing to the acceleration of rural hospital closures.
The REACH Act, which Gardner introduced with U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would not place new requirements on hospitals. Rather, it would offer hospitals the option to provide solely emergency and outpatient care.
“A car accident or a heart attack is dangerous under the best of circumstances, but it’s a lot more dangerous for someone who’s far away from an emergency room,” Grassley said. “When a rural hospital closes, its emergency room closes with it. This proposal will fill a pressing need, help keep hospital doors open, and offer hospital services where and when people need them most.”