### Question
Can you define what rural emergency hospital services means?


### Answer
**Rural emergency hospital services** is defined as the following in *42 U.S.C. § 1395x*:

> the following services furnished by a rural emergency hospital (as defined in paragraph (2)) that do not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours in such rural emergency hospital:


(i) Emergency department services and observation care

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 1395x*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 7-SOCIAL SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER XVIII-HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED > Part E-Miscellaneous Provisions**

