---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 C.F.R. § 485.603"
title: "42"
number: "485.603"
heading: "Rural health network."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/42/485.603"
---

# §485.603. Rural health network.


A rural health network is an organization that meets the following specifications:

- (a) **It includes—**
  - (1) At least one hospital that the State has designated or plans to designate as a CAH; and
  - (2) **At least one hospital that furnishes acute care services.**
- (b) **The members of the organization have entered into agreements regarding—**
  - (1) Patient referral and transfer;
  - (2) The development and use of communications systems, including, where feasible, telemetry systems and systems for electronic sharing of patient data; and
  - (3) **The provision of emergency and nonemergency transportation among members.**
- (c) **Each CAH has an agreement with respect to credentialing and quality assurance with at least—**
  - (1) One hospital that is a member of the network when applicable;
  - (2) One QIO or equivalent entity; or
  - (3) **One other appropriate and qualified entity identified in the State rural health care plan.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[58 FR 30671, May 26, 1993, as amended at 62 FR 46035, Aug. 29, 1997; 63 FR 26359, May 12, 1998]

### Source

Source: 58 FR 30671, May 26, 1993, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1302 and 1395(hh).

### Source

Source: 48 FR 56293, Dec. 15, 1982, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 50 FR 33034, Aug. 16, 1985.

### Amendments

[58 FR 30671, May 26, 1993, as amended at 62 FR 46035, Aug. 29, 1997; 63 FR 26359, May 12, 1998]