The source provides the following information: To be designated as a CAH, a hospital must:
Be located in a rural area;
Be more than 35 miles from another hospital (or 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads available, or have been certified as a "necessary provider" by their state prior to January 1, 2006);
Provide 24-hour emergency care services;
Have a maximum of 25 inpatient beds; andÂ
Maintain an annual average length of stay of 96 hours or less for their acute care patients.
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Number of critical access hospitals in the U.S. 2025, by state
As of April 2025, there were a total of critical access hospitals in the United States. Most of these were found in Texas, followed by Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) gives eligible rural hospitals the designation critical access hospital (CAH) to reduce their financial vulnerability and improve access to healthcare.
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UNC, & University of Minnesota, & University of Southern Maine. (April 10, 2025). Number of critical access hospitals in the United States from as of April 2025, by state [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/
UNC, und University of Minnesota, und University of Southern Maine. "Number of critical access hospitals in the United States from as of April 2025, by state." Chart. April 10, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 28, 2026. /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/
UNC, University of Minnesota, University of Southern Maine. (2025). Number of critical access hospitals in the United States from as of April 2025, by state. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 28, 2026. /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/
UNC, and University of Minnesota, and University of Southern Maine. "Number of Critical Access Hospitals in The United States from as of April 2025, by State." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 10 Apr 2025, /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/
UNC & University of Minnesota & University of Southern Maine, Number of critical access hospitals in the United States from as of April 2025, by state ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/ (last visited July 28, 2026)
Number of critical access hospitals in the United States from as of April 2025, by state [Graph], UNC, & University of Minnesota, & University of Southern Maine, April 10, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1614366/number-of-critical-access-hospitals-by-state-us/
