Rural Hospital Flexibility Program

The Rural Hospital Flexibility Program is a U.S. initiative designed to support small, rural hospitals that might struggle to stay open due to financial challenges. It helps these hospitals operate as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), which means they can receive higher reimbursement rates from Medicare. This program aims to ensure that rural communities have access to essential healthcare services, enabling them to provide emergency care, outpatient services, and sometimes inpatient care, while promoting the sustainability and quality of local healthcare. It's crucial for improving health outcomes in less populated areas where larger hospitals are not easily accessible.