Medscape May 13, 2024
Nearly 15 years ago, the construction of doctor-owned hospitals largely ground to a halt. But federal lawmakers now are considering bills that would lift current restrictions on physician ownership — a move advocates said could increase competition at a time when regulators are closely scrutinizing consolidation in healthcare.
A provision in the Affordable Care Act of 2010 limited the expansion of existing physician-owned hospitals (POHs) and halted the opening of new ones. Today, only about 4% of American hospitals are owned by physicians.
The proposed legislation (H.R. 977/S. 470), called the “Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2023,” would repeal that provision. The bills remain in committee for now.
Meanwhile, industry groups continue to debate the proposed...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor