What is the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and how is it related to the CAH program?
The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program) was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and is intended to strengthen rural health care by encouraging states to take a holistic approach. A major requirement for participation in the Flex Program is the creation of a state rural health plan. The Flex Program provides grants to each state which are used to implement a Critical Access Hospital program, to encourage the development of rural health networks, to assist with quality improvement efforts, and improve rural emergency medical services. The Flex Program promotes a process for improving rural health care, using the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program as one method of promoting strength and longevity through CAH conversion for appropriate facilities.
