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Program
Purpose
The Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program
is a Federal initiative that provides funding to State Governments
to strengthen rural health. It:
- Allows small hospitals the flexibility to reconfigure
operations and be licensed as Critical Access Hospital (CAHs).
- Offers cost-based reimbursement for Medicare
acute inpatient and outpatient services.
- Encourages the development of rural-centric
health networks.
- Offers grants to States to help implement a
CAH program in the context of broader initiatives to strengthen
the rural health care infrastructure.
Program
Overview
The Flex grant program helps stabilize rural hospitals
and improves access to health services in rural communities. Grants
are awarded to States for: Development and implementation of Rural
Health Plans with broad collaboration; stabilizing rural hospitals
by helping them consider, plan for, and obtain designation as "Critical
Access Hospitals" (CAH); supporting CAHs, other providers and
communities as they develop networks of care; helping improve and
integrate emergency medical services; and improving the quality
of care in rural communities. To date, over 1,200 hospitals have
converted to Critical Access status. In FY2005 over 900 CAHs and
small rural hospitals received direct benefits through the Flex
program.
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Reference
Materials
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Browser
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Adobe
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| Grantees |
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List of
Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees |
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| Flex
Grant Program Information |
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State Rural Hospital
Flexibility Program Monitoring Team website |
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Technical Assistance and
Services Center (TASC) for the Rural Hospital Flexibility
Program
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Legislative Authority for
the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
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Rural Hospital Flexibility
Program Strategic Plan Outline
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Lists of Critical Access
Hospitals (CAHs)
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