Hospital applies for critical access status
The Hillsboro Community Medical Center has applied with the state to be designated a Critical Access Hospital, a move that will increase the hospital's Medicare funding and give it more flexibility with federal regulations.
The HCMC board approved the step late last year.
"Rural hospitals have different needs than larger hospitals," said CEO Mike Ryan. "This new program will allow our hospital and others like it to continue providing high quality, affordable health care services right here in our community."
When the United States congress made changes to the Medicare program in 1995, it hurt rural hospitals that rely heavily on Medicare money, Ryan said. Becoming a CAH makes the hospital eligible for a new level of funds.
To be considered as a CAH, hospitals must meet certain state guidelines. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, some of theses guidelines include:
— Providing 24-hour emergency care
— Keeping the average length of hospital stays under four days
— Providing inpatient, emergency, laboratory, and radiology services
— Having no more than 15 acute care beds and 25 inpatient beds
— Partnering with a larger hospital if a patient needs to be transferred (HCMC has chosen Wichita's Via Christi)
Another requirement deals with a hospital's proximity to other hospitals. If a rural hospital isn't 35 miles away from the nearest hospital, it must qualify as a "necessary provider of health services."
And to qualify for that designation, the hospital must have a low population density in the county, high number of senior citizens, average income below the state average, and be located in a medically underserved area.
The whole application process takes from three to six months, and it includes a state inspection.
Said Bob Watson, chairman of the HCMC board, "Hillsboro only stands to benefit from this program through continued access to high quality, affordable health care."
Kansas has approximately 60 CAH facilities in the state. Area critical access hospitals are located in Marion, Herington, Eureka, and Lyons.
