News

Date:  January 26, 2006                         

Hospital Gains Critical Access Status  

Athol Memorial Hospital received an official notification letter, dated January 9, 2006 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, granting Critical Access Hospital status, retroactive to December 1, 2005.  The sought after designation was granted after the Hospital successfully completed the specific requirements and review process needed for approval. 

Only three other hospitals in the state; Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, and Nantucket Cottage Hospital in Nantucket, have earned this distinction. 

This certification allows Athol Memorial Hospital to now receive cost-based reimbursements from the federal government for Medicare services the Hospital provides for patients.  Prior to Critical Access status, AMH was paid for services to Medicare patients through a “prospective payment system”, based on predetermined compensation amounts correlated to patient diagnosis, rather than actual number of treatments, interventions or length of stay.  Medicaid outpatient services, as well, will be reimbursed on a “payment amount per episode” basis, which boosts our payment rate by 30% for those services. 

In addition to the increased revenue gained through reimbursements proportionate to treatment costs, Athol Memorial Hospital will be eligible for additional government funding and grant opportunities.  The essential services that the Hospital provides to the community will be solidly maintained, and the Hospital is better poised to explore the community’s additional healthcare needs.    
The federal Critical Access Hospital program was developed after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to ensure that small, rural health care centers and hospitals continue to be available to the communities that need them.  Critical Access Hospital criteria include, but are not limited to:  the number of in-patient (maximum 25); average length of patient stay (96 hours); 24 hour emergency, laboratory and radiology services; and a network agreement with at least one other hospital to include patient referral and transfer, transportation services, and communication.  

Other eligibility factors are location (rural as defined by state), state certification as a necessary provider, and adherence to all Department of Public Health guidelines and standards.  Critical Access Hospitals must engage in networking with other healthcare facilities and providers, quality assurance initiatives, and community development opportunities. 

Five Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) officials conducted a stringent two-day survey of Athol Memorial Hospital in early November 2005 to evaluate the Hospital’s compliance with patient safety requirements, clinical processes, and quality assurance measures.  At the conclusion of the visit, the DPH representatives commended Athol Memorial Hospital its excellence of care and ongoing performance improvement activities, as well as cleanliness of the facility.

Hospitals seeking this designation must fulfill a community education component to alert the public regarding its intent to apply for Critical Access status.  Athol Memorial Hospital administrators addressed the North Quabbin Community Coalition, the Athol and Orange Boards of Health, the Athol Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, as well as all hospital staff members.  On December 7, 2005, an entire segment of “Ask the Manager” on AOTV (the area’s community access cable station) was devoted to the Critical Access Hospital process.

“This designation underscores our role in the community and illuminates the quality of healthcare we provide, “ stated Athol Memorial Hospital’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Penka, CHE.  “ We are very proud of our staff, the facility, and the services we offer.  We are also grateful to the Massachusetts Hospital Association and Massachusetts Department of Public Health for their assistance in this endeavor.”