Rural emergency hospitals qualify for more Medicare funds under new state, federal laws

Rural emergency hospitals qualify for more Medicare funds under new state, federal laws

Florida is the 16th state to tap into a new federal law authorizing the establishment of “rural emergency hospitals” (REH) and increasing Medicare payments that flow to those facilities. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a batch of nine new measures. One of those was SB 644, sponsored by Republican Sen. Corey Simon. It takes effect July 1. The new law is meant to help abate a rash of hospital closures and to take advantage of increased Medicare …