Jackson General Hospital in Ripley, W.Va., will make another attempt at critical access hospital designation, the second attempt since 2008, according to a Jackson Newspapers report.
In 2004, the hospital was going to convert to a CAH, but the administration backed out at the last minute due to profitability issues, a higher-than-expected bed count (CAHs can only have 25 beds for inpatients) and potential problems with the emergency medical services system, according to the report.
In 2008, JGH made an official push for CAH designation, but it did not qualify because CMS said JGH was too close to Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant, W.Va. CAHs must be 35 miles via primary road or 15 miles via mountainous or secondary roads from the next closest hospital. CMS determined the approximately 30-mile route between JGH and PVH was on a primary road.
However, a more recent definition of primary roads for a state highway said primary roads must be two or more lanes each way. JGH CEO Stephanie McCoy said the hospital checked with the state and federal Divisions of Rural Health, and they confirmed that the path between JGH and PVH cannot be considered a primary road because it is not two or more lanes each way, according to the report.
If JGH attains CAH designation, it could gain an extra $1.2 million in governmental reimbursement without having to cut services, according to the report.
In 2004, the hospital was going to convert to a CAH, but the administration backed out at the last minute due to profitability issues, a higher-than-expected bed count (CAHs can only have 25 beds for inpatients) and potential problems with the emergency medical services system, according to the report.
In 2008, JGH made an official push for CAH designation, but it did not qualify because CMS said JGH was too close to Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant, W.Va. CAHs must be 35 miles via primary road or 15 miles via mountainous or secondary roads from the next closest hospital. CMS determined the approximately 30-mile route between JGH and PVH was on a primary road.
However, a more recent definition of primary roads for a state highway said primary roads must be two or more lanes each way. JGH CEO Stephanie McCoy said the hospital checked with the state and federal Divisions of Rural Health, and they confirmed that the path between JGH and PVH cannot be considered a primary road because it is not two or more lanes each way, according to the report.
If JGH attains CAH designation, it could gain an extra $1.2 million in governmental reimbursement without having to cut services, according to the report.
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