Dynamic List Information
Dynamic List Data
Title
One-Time Change to Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Annual Average 96-hour Patient Length of Stay Calculations to Account for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
Memo #
QSO-23-17-CAH
Posting Date
2023-06-09
Fiscal Year
2023
Title
Memorandum Summary
• Medicare-certified CAHs are required to meet the annual 96-hour average patient length of stay standard for acute inpatient care under the CAH Conditions of Participation (CoPs) at 42 CFR §485.620(b).
• During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS waived the requirement that CAHs limit the annual average patient length of stay to 96 hours. This waiver was in effect from March 1, 2020, through the end of the PHE on May 11, 2023.
• The purpose of this memo is to provide guidance to the SAs of a one-time change to the CAH 96-hour patient length of stay calculation to account for the time period of the PHE.
• Medicare-certified CAHs are required to meet the annual 96-hour average patient length of stay standard for acute inpatient care under the CAH Conditions of Participation (CoPs) at 42 CFR §485.620(b).
• During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS waived the requirement that CAHs limit the annual average patient length of stay to 96 hours. This waiver was in effect from March 1, 2020, through the end of the PHE on May 11, 2023.
• The purpose of this memo is to provide guidance to the SAs of a one-time change to the CAH 96-hour patient length of stay calculation to account for the time period of the PHE.