West Virginia Code Chapter 16. Public Health § 16-5B-14. Rural Emergency Hospital Act

(1) “Critical Access Hospital” means a hospital that has been deemed eligible and received designation as a critical access hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

(2) “Rural Emergency Hospital” means a facility that:

(3) “Rural Emergency Hospital Services” means emergency department services and observation care furnished by a rural emergency hospital that does not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours in such rural emergency hospital.

(4) “Staffed Emergency Department” means an emergency department of a rural emergency hospital that meets the following requirements:

(1) Is enrolled as both a Medicaid and Medicare provider and accepts assignment for all Medicaid and Medicare patients;

(2) Provides emergency health care services to indigent patients;

(3) Maintains 24-hour emergency services; and

(4) Is located in a county that has a rural population of 50 percent or greater as determined by the most recent United States decennial census.

(1) It has been designated as a critical access hospital for at least one year; and

(2) It is designated as a critical access hospital at the time of application for licensure as a rural emergency hospital.

(1) Provide rural emergency hospital services through a staffed emergency department;

(2) Treat all patients regardless of insurance status; and

(3) Have in effect a transfer agreement with a Level I or Level II trauma center.

(1) With respect to services furnished on an outpatient basis, provide other medical and health services as specified by the secretary through rulemaking; and

(2) Include a unit of a facility that is a distinct part licensed as a skilled nursing facility to furnish post-hospital extended care services.