Medicare program; Essential Access Community Hospitals (EACHs) and Rural Primary Care Hospitals (RPCHs)--HCFA. Final rule.

These final rules set forth the requirements for designating certain hospitals as EACHs or RPCHs; the conditions that an RPCH must meet to participate in Medicare; and the rules for Medicare payment for services furnished by EACHs and RPCHs. These rules are necessary to implement sections 6003(g) and 6116 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) and section 4008(d) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90). The amendments are intended to promote regionalization of rural health services in grant States, improve access to hospital and other health services for rural residents, and enhance the provision of emergency and other transportation services related to health care.