(a) The department of health may license a hospital as a rural emergency hospital if the hospital:
(1) Elects to receive the medicare designation as a rural emergency hospital;
(2) Provides emergency treatment and stabilization services for an average length of stay of twenty-four hours or less;
(3) Meets the requirements of title 42 United States Code section 1395x(kkk)(2); and
(4) Passes inspection and receives a recommendation from the department to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to operate as a rural emergency hospital.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "rural emergency hospital" means a hospital licensed under this section that was previously designated and operating as a critical access hospital as of December 27, 2020.