Minimum number standard.
Minimum number standard. CMS annually determines the minimum number standard for each provider and facility-specialty type as follows:
(1) General rule. The provider or facility must—
(i) Be within the maximum time and distance of at least one beneficiary in order to count towards the minimum number standard (requirement); and
(ii) Not be a telehealth-only provider.
(2) Minimum number requirement for provider and facility-specialty types. The minimum number for provider and facility-specialty types are as follows:
(i) For provider-specialty types described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, CMS calculates the minimum number as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(ii) For facility-specialty types described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, CMS calculates the minimum number as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(iii) For facility-specialty types described in paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) through (xiv) of this section, the minimum requirement number is 1.
(3) Determination of the minimum number of for certain provider and facility-specialty types. For specialty types in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2)(i) of this section, CMS multiplies the minimum ratio by the number of beneficiaries required to cover, divides the resulting product by 1,000, and rounds it up to the next whole number.
(i)
(A) The minimum ratio for provider specialty types represents the minimum number of providers per 1,000 beneficiaries.
(B) The minimum ratio for facility specialty type specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section (acute inpatient hospital) represents the minimum number of beds per 1,000 beneficiaries.
(C) The minimum ratios are as follows:
(1) General rule. The provider or facility must—
(i) Be within the maximum time and distance of at least one beneficiary in order to count towards the minimum number standard (requirement); and
(ii) Not be a telehealth-only provider.
(2) Minimum number requirement for provider and facility-specialty types. The minimum number for provider and facility-specialty types are as follows:
(i) For provider-specialty types described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, CMS calculates the minimum number as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(ii) For facility-specialty types described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, CMS calculates the minimum number as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(iii) For facility-specialty types described in paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) through (xiv) of this section, the minimum requirement number is 1.
(3) Determination of the minimum number of for certain provider and facility-specialty types. For specialty types in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2)(i) of this section, CMS multiplies the minimum ratio by the number of beneficiaries required to cover, divides the resulting product by 1,000, and rounds it up to the next whole number.
(i)
(A) The minimum ratio for provider specialty types represents the minimum number of providers per 1,000 beneficiaries.
(B) The minimum ratio for facility specialty type specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section (acute inpatient hospital) represents the minimum number of beds per 1,000 beneficiaries.
(C) The minimum ratios are as follows: