Section 6001 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act prohibits POHs from new construction or expansion projects. The bill up for consideration today would allow POHs to open if they were under construction at the end of 2010 and would allow them to expand if they were already in existence at that time.

Dr. Michael E. Russell II, president of Physician Hospitals of America, said HR 3630 could help 25-30 POHs that were under construction but had not opened when PPACA passed, according to the report. He also said more than half of the existing 270 POHs want to expand and this bill could enable them to do so.

The bill faces stark opposition, however, as some members of Congress say POHs are linked to unnecessary utilization. Richard J. Umbdenstock, president of the American Hospital Association, has also expressed opposition to the bill as it would cut Medicare payments to hospitals and could leave community hospitals with more acutely-ill patients.

HR 3630 also contains other controversial provisions not directly related to healthcare, such as a provision setting a 60-day deadline to allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would link Canada's oil sands to Texas refineries. Democrats sharply oppose it and Pres. Obama has already suggested he'll veto such language, according to the report.

Related Articles on Physician-Owned Hospitals:

55% of Physician-Owned Hospitals Would Expand if Section 6001 Was Axed
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Physician-Owned Hospitals Group Says 7,000 Healthcare Jobs Could Be Created if Projects Allowed to Move Forward