Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will allow Providers to enroll in Texas Medicaid as Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) effective September 1, 2025.
Community First Health Plans will implement the appropriate system and operational change requirements for this new Provider type by September 1, 2025. This includes the following:
- Recognizing the REH provider type on the master provider file. The new REH provider type will be available in the Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS) to allow providers to complete new enrollment, revalidation, reenrollments, and existing enrollments for designated REH providers.
- Paying REHs in accordance with Texas Medicaid policies as defined by the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedure Manual.
- Updating Provider education materials, websites, policy manuals and other relevant documentation to include REH policies and information
To enroll as an REH, a facility must obtain an LSRH license from HHSC Regulatory Services and enroll in Medicare as an REH.
Background:
On January 1, 2023, Medicare established initial policies for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) as a new Medicare provider type enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021. Medicare-enrolled REHs are being paid to deliver emergency hospital, observation, and other services to Medicare patients on an outpatient basis.
The implementation of the REH designation in Texas aligns with federal and state efforts to improve access to emergency care in rural communities. REHs offer outpatient emergency, observation, and other services to patients in rural areas without providing acute inpatient care.
Resources:
TexConnect Notice – Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Provider Type
CMS Rural Emergency Hospitals Fact Sheet