The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from the Department of Health and Human Services announced an opportunity for up to 10 additional rural hospitals to join the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program. This program aims to explore the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement for inpatient services at small rural hospitals, running through June 30, 2028. To be eligible, hospitals must be located in one of the 20 least densely populated states and fulfill criteria specific to rural community hospitals. Applications for participation must be submitted by March 1, 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government is asking up to 10 small rural hospitals to try a new way of getting paid, to see if it works better for them, and they have until March 2025 to say if they want to join.