MASSENA, NY – The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a decision to undo a previous ruling that changed the guidelines establishing a healthcare facility as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). The change will allow St. Lawrence Health’s Massena Hospital to reapply for CAH status, and ensure that Gouverneur Hospital retains its current CAH designation.
The ruling reversal is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2023. CAH designation is awarded to eligible rural hospitals by the CMS. It is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals, and improve access to essential services in their local communities. This modification could potentially mean millions of dollars in CAH program reimbursement funding for Massena Hospital.
“St. Lawrence Health appreciates all the efforts made by US Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for their continued efforts and strong advocacy for our hospitals to ensure the guideline readjustments were made for our qualifying rural hospitals to meet and maintain CAH status,” stated St. Lawrence Health and Canton-Potsdam Hospital President Donna McGregor.
Over the past few years, St. Lawrence Health Senior Leadership has been working with the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) to send information to CMS urging them to support Critical Access Hospitals in their mission of providing care in rural communities by protecting them from future policy decisions which may unintentionally fiscally destabilize these facilities.
