SHARE MEDICAL CENTER NAMED CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL

Share Medical Center received some long awaited and exciting news Friday afternoon. They have been working diligently for over a year to have CMS change their designation to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). It was confirmed Friday afternoon that they are now deemed a CAH facility. So what does this mean for Alva and the surrounding communities Share Medical Center Services?

The Critical Access Hospital designation was established as a federal reimbursement program under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Hospitals that meet the requirements are deems as "critically important" to the people they serve. Under this program, hospitals receive a higher rate of reimbursement for Medicare patients receiving outpatient, inpatient, laboratory, and therapy services.

The CAH designation is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. To accomplish this goal, CAHs receive certain benefits, such as cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.