{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-125.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-125.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-125.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-125.3.html"}],"law_id":58917,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58917,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.3","catch_line":"Bed capacity and licensure in hospitals designated as critical access hospitals; designation as rural hospital","history":"2001, c. 579; 2006, c. 378.","full_text":"A\n\nAny medical care facility licensed as a hospital pursuant to this article that (i) has been certified, as provided in &#xA7; 32.1-122.07, as a critical access hospital by the Commissioner of Health in compliance with the certification regulations promulgated by the Health Care Financing Administration pursuant to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended, and (ii) has, as a result of the critical access certification, been required to reduce its licensed bed capacity to conform to the critical access certification requirement shall, upon termination of its critical access hospital certification, be licensed to operate at the licensed bed capacity in existence prior to the critical access hospital certification without being required to apply for and obtain a certificate of public need for such bed capacity in accordance with Article 1.1 (&#xA7; 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of this title.B\n\nAny medical care facility licensed as a hospital shall be considered a rural hospital on and after September 30, 2004, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(8)(E)(ii)(II), if (i) the hospital is located in an area defined as rural by federal statute or regulation; (ii) the Board of Health defines, in regulation, the area in which the hospital is located as a rural health area or the hospital as a rural hospital; or (iii) the hospital was designated, prior to October 1, 2004, as a Medicare-dependent small rural health hospital, as defined in 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(5)(G)(iv).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":216023,"text":"Any medical care facility licensed as a hospital pursuant to this article that (i) has been certified, as provided in &#xA7; 32.1-122.07, as a critical access hospital by the Commissioner of Health in compliance with the certification regulations promulgated by the Health Care Financing Administration pursuant to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended, and (ii) has, as a result of the critical access certification, been required to reduce its licensed bed capacity to conform to the critical access certification requirement shall, upon termination of its critical access hospital certification, be licensed to operate at the licensed bed capacity in existence prior to the critical access hospital certification without being required to apply for and obtain a certificate of public need for such bed capacity in accordance with Article 1.1 (&#xA7; 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of this title.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":216024,"text":"Any medical care facility licensed as a hospital shall be considered a rural hospital on and after September 30, 2004, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(8)(E)(ii)(II), if (i) the hospital is located in an area defined as rural by federal statute or regulation; (ii) the Board of Health defines, in regulation, the area in which the hospital is located as a rural health area or the hospital as a rural hospital; or (iii) the hospital was designated, prior to October 1, 2004, as a Medicare-dependent small rural health hospital, as defined in 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(5)(G)(iv).","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12729,"edition_id":1,"name":"Hospital and Nursing Home Licensure and Inspection","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12728,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":202857,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12729,"identifier":"1","token":"32.1\/5\/1","url":"\/32.1\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12728,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Medical Care Facilities and Services","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":202855,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12728,"identifier":"5","token":"32.1\/5","url":"\/32.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":80727,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-123","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Definitions","url":"\/32.1-123\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-123","metadata":false},{"id":75042,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-124","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/32.1-124\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-124","metadata":false},{"id":58545,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125","catch_line":"Establishment or operation of hospitals and nursing homes prohibited without license or certification; licenses not transferable","url":"\/32.1-125\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125","metadata":false},{"id":63548,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.01","catch_line":"Failing to report; penalty","url":"\/32.1-125.01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.01","metadata":false},{"id":59071,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.1","catch_line":"Inspection of hospitals by state agencies generally","url":"\/32.1-125.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.1","metadata":false},{"id":78537,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.2","catch_line":"Disclosure of other providers of services","url":"\/32.1-125.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.2","metadata":false},{"id":58917,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.3","catch_line":"Bed capacity and licensure in hospitals designated as critical access hospitals; designation as rural hospital","url":"\/32.1-125.3\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.3","metadata":false},{"id":55275,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.4","catch_line":"Retaliation or discrimination against complainants","url":"\/32.1-125.4\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.4","metadata":false},{"id":70129,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.5","catch_line":"Confidentiality of complainant's identity","url":"\/32.1-125.5\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.5","metadata":false},{"id":60850,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126","catch_line":"Commissioner to inspect and to issue licenses to or assure compliance with certification requirements for hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities; notice of denial of license; consultative advice and assistance; notice to electric utilities","url":"\/32.1-126\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126","metadata":false},{"id":77692,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.01","catch_line":"Employment for compensation of persons convicted of barrier crimes prohibited; criminal records check required; suspension or revocation of license","url":"\/32.1-126.01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.01","metadata":false},{"id":57301,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.02","catch_line":"Hospital pharmacy employees; criminal records check required","url":"\/32.1-126.02\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.02","metadata":false},{"id":71970,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.1","catch_line":"Asbestos inspection for hospitals","url":"\/32.1-126.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.1","metadata":false},{"id":65858,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.2","catch_line":"Fire suppression systems required in nursing facilities and nursing homes","url":"\/32.1-126.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.2","metadata":false},{"id":83484,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.3","catch_line":"Fire suppression systems required in hospitals","url":"\/32.1-126.3\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.3","metadata":false},{"id":70496,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.4","catch_line":"Hospital standing orders or protocols for certain vaccinations","url":"\/32.1-126.4\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.4","metadata":false},{"id":73579,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-126.5","catch_line":"Consolidation of inspections","url":"\/32.1-126.5\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-126.5","metadata":false},{"id":85883,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Regulations","url":"\/32.1-127\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127","metadata":false},{"id":71680,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.001","catch_line":"Certain design and construction standards to be incorporated in hospital and nursing home licensure regulations","url":"\/32.1-127.001\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.001","metadata":false},{"id":63277,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.01","catch_line":"Regulations to authorize certain disciplinary actions and guidelines","url":"\/32.1-127.01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.01","metadata":false},{"id":71135,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1","catch_line":"Immunity from liability for routine referral for organ and tissue donation","url":"\/32.1-127.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1","metadata":false},{"id":81314,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:01","catch_line":"Record storage","url":"\/32.1-127.1_01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1_01","metadata":false},{"id":56243,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:02","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-127.1_02\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1_02","metadata":false},{"id":58930,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1_03","metadata":false},{"id":84892,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:04","catch_line":"Use or disclosure of certain protected health information required","url":"\/32.1-127.1_04\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1_04","metadata":false},{"id":78997,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:05","catch_line":"Breach of medical information notification","url":"\/32.1-127.1_05\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.1_05","metadata":false},{"id":55917,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-127.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.2","metadata":false},{"id":77664,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-127.3","catch_line":"Immunity from liability for certain free health care services","url":"\/32.1-127.3\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-127.3","metadata":false},{"id":59266,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-128","catch_line":"Applicability to hospitals and nursing homes for practice of religious tenets","url":"\/32.1-128\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-128","metadata":false},{"id":70347,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-129","catch_line":"Application for license","url":"\/32.1-129\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-129","metadata":false},{"id":54055,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-130","catch_line":"Fees; Hospital and Nursing Home Licensure and Inspection Program Fund","url":"\/32.1-130\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-130","metadata":false},{"id":76878,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-131","catch_line":"Expiration and renewal of licenses","url":"\/32.1-131\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-131","metadata":false},{"id":83021,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-132","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2028) Alterations or additions to hospitals and nursing homes; when new license required; use of inpatient hospital beds for furnishing skilled care services","url":"\/32.1-132\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-132","metadata":false},{"id":81019,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-133","catch_line":"Display of license","url":"\/32.1-133\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-133","metadata":false},{"id":82010,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-133.1","catch_line":"Human trafficking hotline; posted notice required; civil penalty","url":"\/32.1-133.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-133.1","metadata":false},{"id":76056,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134","catch_line":"Family planning information in hospitals providing maternity care","url":"\/32.1-134\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134","metadata":false},{"id":73607,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.01","catch_line":"Certain information required for maternity patients","url":"\/32.1-134.01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.01","metadata":false},{"id":87288,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.02","catch_line":"Infants; blood sample provided to parents","url":"\/32.1-134.02\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.02","metadata":false},{"id":70187,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.03","catch_line":"Maternal health; protocols and resources for hospitals and outpatient providers; report","url":"\/32.1-134.03\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.03","metadata":false},{"id":65119,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.1","catch_line":"When denial, etc., to duly licensed physician of staff membership or professional privileges improper","url":"\/32.1-134.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.1","metadata":false},{"id":71090,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.2","catch_line":"Clinical privileges for certain practitioners","url":"\/32.1-134.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.2","metadata":false},{"id":68078,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.3","catch_line":"Response to applications for clinical privileges","url":"\/32.1-134.3\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.3","metadata":false},{"id":55369,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-134.4","catch_line":"Right of podiatrists or advanced practice registered nurses to injunction","url":"\/32.1-134.4\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-134.4","metadata":false},{"id":75670,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-135","catch_line":"Revocation or suspension of license or certification of hospital or certified nursing facility; restriction or prohibition of new admissions to certified nursing facility","url":"\/32.1-135\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-135","metadata":false},{"id":77485,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-135.1","catch_line":"Certain advertisements prohibited","url":"\/32.1-135.1\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-135.1","metadata":false},{"id":83084,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-135.2","catch_line":"Offer or payment of remuneration in exchange for referral prohibited","url":"\/32.1-135.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-135.2","metadata":false},{"id":53943,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-136","catch_line":"Violation; penalties","url":"\/32.1-136\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-136","metadata":false},{"id":68332,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137","catch_line":"Certification of medical care facilities under Title XVIII of Social Security Act","url":"\/32.1-137\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137","metadata":false},{"id":59084,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.01","catch_line":"Posting of charity care policies","url":"\/32.1-137.01\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.01","metadata":false},{"id":76816,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.010","catch_line":"Financial assistance; payment plans","url":"\/32.1-137.010\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.010","metadata":false},{"id":75514,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.011","catch_line":"Childbirth; postpartum process; doulas","url":"\/32.1-137.011\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.011","metadata":false},{"id":65869,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.02","catch_line":"Hospital discharge procedures","url":"\/32.1-137.02\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.02","metadata":false},{"id":65455,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.03","catch_line":"Discharge planning; designation of individual to provide care","url":"\/32.1-137.03\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.03","metadata":false},{"id":79498,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.04","catch_line":"Patient notice of observation or outpatient status","url":"\/32.1-137.04\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.04","metadata":false},{"id":60024,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.05","catch_line":"Information regarding standard charges; advance estimate of patient payment amount for elective procedure, test, or service","url":"\/32.1-137.05\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.05","metadata":false},{"id":65804,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.06","catch_line":"Lyme disease test result information","url":"\/32.1-137.06\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.06","metadata":false},{"id":61126,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.07","catch_line":"Violations of certain provisions; penalty","url":"\/32.1-137.07\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.07","metadata":false},{"id":81633,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.08","catch_line":"Medical care facilities; persons with disabilities; designated support persons","url":"\/32.1-137.08\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.08","metadata":false},{"id":80169,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-137.09","catch_line":"Hospital emergency department CPT code data reporting","url":"\/32.1-137.09\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-137.09","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":78537,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.2","catch_line":"Disclosure of other providers of services","url":"\/32.1-125.2\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55275,"structure_id":12729,"section_number":"32.1-125.4","catch_line":"Retaliation or discrimination against complainants","url":"\/32.1-125.4\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.4","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-125.3\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0579\">579<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2006, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0378\">378<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":77111,"section_number":"32.1-102.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-102.1\/"},{"id":84079,"section_number":"32.1-122.07","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2028) Authority of Commissioner for certain health planning activities; rural health plan; designation as a rural hospital","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-122.07\/"}],"permalink":{"id":202883,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58917,"identifier":"32.1-125.3","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.3","url":"\/32.1-125.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-125.3\/","token":"32.1\/5\/1\/32.1-125.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Bed capacity and licensure in hospitals designated as critical access hospitals; designation as rural hospital","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-125.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">medical care facility<\/span> licensed as a <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> pursuant to this article that (i) has been certified, as provided in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"(Effective July 1, 2028) Authority of Commissioner for certain health planning activities; rural health plan; designation as a rural hospital\" href=\"\/32.1-122.07\/\">32.1-122.07<\/a>, as a critical access <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> of Health in compliance with the certification regulations promulgated by the Health Care Financing Administration pursuant to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended, and (ii) has, as a result of the critical access certification, been required to reduce its licensed bed capacity to conform to the critical access certification requirement shall, upon termination of its critical access <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> certification, be licensed to operate at the licensed bed capacity in existence prior to the critical access <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> certification without being required to apply for and obtain a certificate of public need for such bed capacity in accordance with Article 1.1 (&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/32.1-102.1\/\">32.1-102.1<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of this title. <a id=\"paragraph-216023\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/32.1-125.3\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">medical care facility<\/span> licensed as a <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> shall be considered a rural <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> on and after September 30, 2004, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(8)(E)(ii)(II), if (i) the <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> is located in an area defined as rural by federal <span class=\"dictionary\">statute<\/span> or regulation; (ii) the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> of Health defines, in regulation, the area in which the <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> is located as a rural health area or the <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> as a rural <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span>; or (iii) the <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span> was designated, prior to October 1, 2004, as a Medicare-dependent small rural health <span class=\"dictionary\">hospital<\/span>, as defined in 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(5)(G)(iv). <a id=\"paragraph-216024\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/32.1-125.3\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBED CAPACITY AND LICENSURE IN HOSPITALS DESIGNATED AS CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS;\nDESIGNATION AS RURAL HOSPITAL (\u00a7 32.1-125.3)\n\nA. Any medical care facility licensed as a hospital pursuant to this article\nthat (i) has been certified, as provided in &#xA7; 32.1-122.07, as a critical\naccess hospital by the Commissioner of Health in compliance with the\ncertification regulations promulgated by the Health Care Financing\nAdministration pursuant to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended,\nand (ii) has, as a result of the critical access certification, been required to\nreduce its licensed bed capacity to conform to the critical access certification\nrequirement shall, upon termination of its critical access hospital\ncertification, be licensed to operate at the licensed bed capacity in existence\nprior to the critical access hospital certification without being required to\napply for and obtain a certificate of public need for such bed capacity in\naccordance with Article 1.1 (&#xA7; 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of this\ntitle.\n\nB. Any medical care facility licensed as a hospital shall be considered a rural\nhospital on and after September 30, 2004, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww\n(d)(8)(E)(ii)(II), if (i) the hospital is located in an area defined as rural by\nfederal statute or regulation; (ii) the Board of Health defines, in regulation,\nthe area in which the hospital is located as a rural health area or the hospital\nas a rural hospital; or (iii) the hospital was designated, prior to October 1,\n2004, as a Medicare-dependent small rural health hospital, as defined in 42\nU.S.C. &#xA7; 1395ww (d)(5)(G)(iv).\n\nHISTORY: 2001, c. 579; 2006, c. 378.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}