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CS/SB 644 — Rural Emergency Hospitals
by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and Senator Simon
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill creates a new hospital designation type, “rural emergency hospital” (REH), and defines requirements for a rural or critical access hospital to make application to the Agency for Health Care Administration for that designation.
The bill clarifies that an REH is subject to the requirements to provide emergency services and care for any emergency medical condition in accordance with current law and that an REH is not required to offer acute inpatient care or care beyond 24 hours or to make available other types of care that are required in a standard hospital.
Additionally, the bill extends the licensure expiration date for rural hospitals that were licensed in Fiscal Years 2010-2011 or 2011-2012, from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, the bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 113-0