On Sept. 23, the AANS and the CNS issued a press release urging Congress to lift the ban on physician-led hospitals and expressing strong support for the bipartisan Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 9001). Introduced by Reps. Michael C. Burgess, MD (R-Texas), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), this bill would increase access to care in rural areas by establishing exceptions to rules for physician-owned hospitals in rural areas. The bill removes a ban that prevents existing physician-owned hospitals from expanding.
The AANS and the CNS are members of an informal coalition led by Physician-Led Hospitals of America (PHA) and are advocating to gain more bipartisan support of the narrowed scope bill. The AANS and the CNS also support the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act (S. 470/H.R. 977). Introduced in the Senate by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and in the House by Reps. Michael C. Burgess, MD, (R-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), the bill would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s ban on physician-owned hospitals, enhancing patient choice and improving competition in the health care marketplace.
Click here to read the AANS and the CNS press release, here to read Rep. Burgess’ press release on H.R. 9001, and here to read the PHA letter.
