Temporarily allows certain rural community hospitals that participated in a specified demonstration to be designated as critical access hospitals (CAHs). The temporary rule applies to CAH designations made during a one-year window that begins six months after the law is enacted and includes a small, technical edit to a Medicare definition to conform with that change.

The change is limited in time (a one-year designation window) and is implemented by amending provisions of the Social Security Act and a provision of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. It aims to give eligible rural hospitals short-term access to CAH status and the associated payment and regulatory flexibilities.