KRS 216.379: Authority to apply for Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program --

Development of rural health plan.

(1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall make application to the Secretary

of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a

Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. sec.

1395i-4, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33.

(2) The cabinet shall develop and submit as part of its application a rural health plan

that:

(a) Provides for the creation of one (1) or more rural health networks;

(b) Promotes regionalization of rural health services in the state;

(c) Improves access to hospital and other health services for rural residents of the

state; and

(d) Designates rural hospitals as critical access hospitals.

(3) The secretary shall designate as a critical access hospital any facility which

complies with the provisions of KRS 216.380.