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H.R. 2191: Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

This bill, titled the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, proposes amendments to the Social Security Act specifically relating to physician-owned hospitals. The key components of this legislation include:

Revisions to Self-Referral Exemptions

The bill aims to amend existing self-referral provisions that apply to physician-owned hospitals. This involves modifying language to clarify the applicability of these provisions for different types of hospitals. Specifically:

  • It revises certain exemptions that allow physicians to refer patients to hospitals they own, subject to specific conditions.
  • It introduces a new classification called covered rural hospital, which refers to hospitals in rural areas that are significantly distanced from other healthcare facilities, thereby emphasizing access to quality care in rural settings.

Definition of Covered Rural Hospital

The legislation defines a covered rural hospital as a hospital that:

  • Is located in a rural area as determined by the appropriate federal definitions.
  • Is situated more than 35 miles away from the nearest hospital, or 15 miles away in cases of difficult terrain or limited road access, at the time it enrolls for Medicare services.

Expansion of Existing Physician-Owned Hospitals

Furthermore, the bill allows for the expansion of existing physician-owned hospitals by removing restrictions that currently apply:

  • It eliminates a previous prohibition on the expansion of these hospitals, thereby permitting physician-owned hospitals to grow and potentially enhance their services and reach within their communities.

Implementation Timeline

The changes proposed in this bill would take effect upon its enactment, facilitating immediate adjustments to how physician-owned hospitals operate under the law.

Targeted Provisions

This legislation is designed to address the needs of rural healthcare systems and improve access to medical services in less populated areas, aligning healthcare availability with the realities faced by rural populations.

Relevant Companies

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Sponsors

27 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Mar. 18, 2025 Introduced in House
Mar. 18, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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