HR 2191
Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
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Bill overview
This bill, the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, changes rules about how doctors can refer patients and how physician-owned hospitals can grow. It loosens restrictions under the Stark Law, which generally prevents doctors from referring patients to facilities where they have a financial stake. Specifically, it allows doctors or their families to own shares in rural hospitals located far from other hospitals, and it removes a limit on the number of operating rooms and beds that physician-owned hospitals can add.
Key provisions
- Allows physicians and their families to own shares in rural hospitals located more than 35 miles from other hospitals (or 15 miles in certain areas).
- Revises the definition of a ‘covered rural hospital’ to include hospitals meeting specific location criteria.
- Removes the restriction on physician-owned hospitals expanding the number of operating rooms and beds.
- Updates the Stark Law to accommodate these changes regarding rural hospital ownership.
Who is affected
- Physicians
- Physician-owned hospitals
- Rural hospital administrators
- Patients in rural areas
- Healthcare providers
Notable changes
- Loosens the Stark Law restrictions on physician referrals to rural hospitals.
- Eliminates the limit on the expansion of physician-owned hospital capacity.
- Defines ‘covered rural hospital’ based on geographic location.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 2191
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals.
This Act may be cited as the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
.
in subsection (d)—
in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting (other than a covered rural hospital (as defined in subsection (h)))
after a hospital
; and
in paragraph (3)(D), by inserting in the case of a hospital other than a covered rural hospital (as defined in subsection (h)),
before the hospital
; and
in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
covered rural hospitalmeans a hospital that—
Section 1877(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(i)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(B), by striking in paragraph (3)
and inserting in paragraph (3) or (7)
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: