The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons are supporting the bipartisan Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, which would establish exceptions to rules related to physician-owned hospitals.
The bill would allow physician ownership in rural hospitals that are at least 35 miles away from a hospital's main patient campus, according to a Sept. 23 news release shared with Becker's. Legislation would also remove a ban that prevents existing POHs from building expansions.
"For too long, physician-owned hospitals have been restricted from expanding," Russell Lonser, MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee said in the release. "There is no sound rationale for restricting physicians from owning hospitals. Congress should act to bring back competition and pass the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 9001)."
U.S. Reps. Michael C. Burgess, MD, R-Texas; Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif.; Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, introduced the bill in the House.