The bill called "The Critical Access Hospital Flexibiilty Act" would change federal regulations for rural hospitals to give them greater flexibility to meet patients needs.

Federal regulation limits the number of patients "critical access hospitals" can see in a day. They can see 25 patients and when they reach that cap, they must turn patients away.

The legislation would allow hospitals to meet he current 25 patients per day lmit or a limit of 20 patients per day -- averaged throughout the year.