42 CFR § 485.620 - Condition of participation: Number of beds and length of stay.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s485.620"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 485.620 - Condition of participation: Number of beds and length of stay."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "485.620"
section_name: "Condition of participation: Number of beds and length of stay."
chapter_name: "CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION"
part_number: "485"
part_name: "CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: SPECIALIZED PROVIDERS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 1302 and 1395(hh)."
regulatory_source: "48 FR 56293, Dec. 15, 1982, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 50 FR 33034, Aug. 16, 1985."
cfr_part: "485"
---
# 485.620 Condition of participation: Number of beds and length of stay.
(a) *Standard: Number of beds.* Except as permitted for CAHs having distinct part units under § 485.647, the CAH maintains no more than 25 inpatient beds. Inpatient beds may be used for either inpatient or swing-bed services.
(b) *Standard: Length of stay.* The CAH provides acute inpatient care for a period that does not exceed, on an annual average basis, 96 hours per patient.
[62 FR 46036, Aug. 29, 1997, as amended at 65 FR 47052, Aug. 1, 2000; 69 FR 49271, Aug. 11, 2004; 69 FR 60252, Oct. 7, 2004; 78 FR 50970, Aug. 19, 2013]