MEDHOST Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Solution

What is a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH)?

The Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) was established under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to address the healthcare disparities and accessibility issues faced by rural communities.

This new Medicare provider type aims to provide a unique opportunity for community hospitals that are struggling to bring in enough revenue, especially those competing for financially desirable patients with larger short-term acute care facilities.

What are the benefits of becoming an REH?

The benefits of becoming an REH include a five percent premium to the standard Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System payment for covered services and a monthly facility fee, which is approximately $272,866.00 per month (CY23).

This additional payment will increase each year by the same percentage as the hospital market basket increase.

Who qualifies? 

Providers who meet all three of the following criteria may be eligible:

• Critical Access Hospital (CAH) or a rural hospital of not more than 50 beds
• Operating on December 27, 2020 (can be currently open or closed)
• Transfer agreement with a level I or level II trauma center