The Evidence for Community Paramedicine in Rural Areas: State and Local Findings and the Role of the State Flex Program

The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program), created by Congress in
1997, allows small hospitals to be licensed as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and
offers grants to states to help implement initiatives to strengthen the rural healthcare
infrastructure. To participate in the Flex Grant Program, states are required to develop a
rural healthcare plan that provides for the creation of one or more rural health networks,
promotes regionalization of rural health services in the state, and improves the quality of
and access to hospital and other health services for rural residents of the state. Consistent
with their rural healthcare . . .