### Question
How does HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED define sole community hospital?


### Answer
Under *42 U.S.C. § 1395ww*, **sole community hospital** is defined as:

> any hospital—


(I) that the Secretary determines is located more than 35 road miles from another hospital,


(II) that, by reason of factors such as the time required for an individual to travel to the nearest alternative source of appropriate inpatient care (in accordance with standards promulgated by the Secretary), location, weather conditions, travel conditions, or absence of other like hospitals (as determined by the Secretary), is the sole source of inpatient hospital services reasonably available to individuals in a geographic area who are entitled to benefits under part A of this subchapter, or


(III) that is located in a rural area and designated by the Secretary as an essential access community hospital under section 1395i–4(i)(1) of this title as in effect on September 30, 1997

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

