- A CAH is a type of small, rural hospital that is designated by the CMS to provide essential healthcare services to underserved areas. CAHs are required to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for the critical access hospital designation, including being located in a rural area, having no more than twenty-five inpatient beds, and meeting specific requirements for patient lengths of stay and services.
- If a Medicare beneficiary receives care at a critical access hospital, their Medicare coverage will generally be the same as it would be if they received care at any other hospital. This means that Medicare will cover inpatient hospital services, including room, board, and certain medical and surgical services, as well as certain outpatient services that are provided by the hospital.
- It is important to note that Medicare coverage for hospital services may vary depending on the specific Medicare plan a beneficiary has. Some plans may have limits on the number of days of hospital care that are covered or may require a copayment or deductible for certain services. It is also important to be aware that Medicare does not cover all hospital services, and the beneficiary may be responsible for paying some or all the cost out-of-pocket for certain services.
