Rural Emergency Hospitals
32 Hospitals Have Converted to
Rural Emergency Hospitals since January 2023
| © 2023, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. All rights reserved. |
What is a Rural Emergency Hospital?
A Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) is a facility that provides emergency department services, observation care, and additional outpatient medical and health services if elected by the REH, that do not exceed an annual per patient average length of stay of 24 hours. REHs are prohibited from providing inpatient services, except those furnished in a distinct part licensed as a skilled nursing facility to furnish post-hospital extended care services.
Eligible hospitals for REH conversion include: CAHs or rural hospitals that were enrolled and certified to participate in Medicare as of 12/27/2020 with 50 or fewer beds located in or treated as being located in a rural area.
Make sure to see our FAQ below for additional information.
| Hospital | City | State | Previous Medicare Payment | REH Participation Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Health Group of Houston | Houston | Mississippi | MDH | 2024-08-19 |
| Elkview General Hospital | Hobart | Oklahoma | SCH | 2024-07-01 |
| Taylor Regional Hospital | Hawkinsville | Georgia | PPS | 2024-07-01 |
| Rush County Memorial Hospital | La Crosse | Kansas | CAH | 2024-05-01 |
| Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital | Rolling Fork | Mississippi | CAH | 2024-05-01 |
| Mahnomen Health Center | Mahnomen | Minnesota | CAH | 2024-05-01 |
| South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center | Osceola | Arkansas | CAH | 2024-05-01 |
| Perry County General Hospital | Richton | Mississippi | CAH | 2024-04-01 |
| Greene County Hospital | Leakesville | Mississippi | CAH | 2024-03-20 |
| Crittenden Community Hospital | Marion | Kentucky | SCH | 2024-03-13 |
| Friend Community Healthcare System | Friend | Nebraska | CAH | 2024-01-11 |
| Parkland Health Center - Bonne Terre | Bonne Terre | Missouri | CAH | 2024-01-01 |
| Mercy Hospital | Moundridge | Kansas | PPS | 2024-01-01 |
| Progressive Health of Helena | Helena | Arkansas | SCH | 2023-12-05 |
| Eureka Springs Hospital | Eureka Springs | Arkansas | CAH | 2023-12-01 |
| Panola Medical Center | Batesville | Mississippi | PPS | 2023-11-01 |
| Harper County Community Hospital | Buffalo | Oklahoma | CAH | 2023-10-01 |
| South Central Kansas Medical Center | Arkansas City | Kansas | SCH | 2023-09-28 |
| St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center | Pocahontas | Arkansas | SCH | 2023-09-01 |
| Guadalupe County Hospital | Santa Rosa | New Mexico | SCH | 2023-09-01 |
| Assumption Community Hospital | Napoleonville | Louisiana | CAH | 2023-08-03 |
| Sturgis Hospital | Sturgis | Michigan | PPS | 2023-07-06 |
| Blue Ridge Medical Center | Blue Ridge | Georgia | MDH | 2023-07-01 |
| Stillwater Medical-Blackwell | Blackwell | Oklahoma | SCH | 2023-07-01 |
| Tristar Ashland City Medical Center | Ashland City | Tennessee | CAH | 2023-07-01 |
| St. Luke's Health - Memorial Hospital - San Augustine | San Augustine | Texas | CAH | 2023-06-20 |
| Jefferson County Hospital | Fayette | Mississippi | PPS | 2023-06-01 |
| Stillwater Medical - Perry | Perry | Oklahoma | SCH | 2023-04-01 |
| Anson General Hospital | Anson | Texas | MDH | 2023-03-27 |
| Falls Community Hospital and Clinic | Marlin | Texas | SCH | 2023-02-08 |
| Irwin County Hospital | Ocilla | Georgia | PPS | 2023-02-01 |
| Crosbyton Clinic Hospital | Crosbyton | Texas | CAH | 2023-01-30 |
Do you know of a hospital that converted to an REH that is not on our list? Do you know of a hospital considering conversion? Please complete an inquiry below or email your information and tips to us here: ncrural@unc.edu
How are REHs identified?
We collect information from hospital administrators (CEOs, etc.), state offices of rural health, and data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Quality, Certification & Oversight Reports).
Where can I get more information about Rural Emergency Hospitals?
Rural Emergency Hospitals. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model. Rural Health Redesign Center.
Rural Emergency Hospitals. Rural Health Information Hub.
What research has the NC Rural Health Research Program published about Rural Emergency Hospitals?
Pink G, Gurzenda S, Thompson K, Howard HA. Characteristics of Rural Hospitals Eligible for Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospitals and Three Rural Hospitals Considering Conversion. Rural Health Research Program. UNC Sheps Center. December 2022. FB 181.
Reiter KL, Grant TJ, Gurzenda S, Budko A, Greenwood-Ericksen M, Pink GH. Key Considerations for a Rural Hospital Assessing Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital. NC Rural Health Research Program. UNC Sheps Center. October 2022. FB 179.
Greenwood-Ericksen M, Grant TJ, Gurzenda S, Malone T, Budko A, Reiter KL, Pink GH. Small Rural Hospitals with Low Volume ED that May Convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital. NC Rural Health Research Program. UNC Sheps Center. October 2022. FB 178.
Pink G, Thompson K, Howard HA, Holmes M. How Many Hospitals Might Convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital. NC Rural Health Research Program, UNC Sheps Center. July 2021.
Malone T, Gurzenda S, Reiter KL, Pink GP, Greenwood-Ericksen M. Suitability of Low-Volume Rural Emergency Departments to New Rural Emergency Hospital Designation. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.08.492