rural emergency hospital services
(1) Rural emergency hospital services (A) In general The term “rural emergency hospital services” means the following services furnished by a rural emergency hospital (as defined in paragraph (2)) that do not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours in such rural emergency hospital: (i) Emergency department services and observation care. (ii) At the election of the rural emergency hospital, with respect to services furnished on an outpatient basis, other medical and health services as specified by the Secretary through rulemaking. (B) Staffed emergency department For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), an emergency department of a rural emergency hospital shall be considered a staffed emergency department if it meets the following requirements: (i) The emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (ii) A physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)), nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5)) is available to furnish rural emergency hospital services in the facility 24 hours a day. (iii) Applicable staffing and staffing responsibilities under section 485.631 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).