March 18, 2025
Mr. Griffith (for himself, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Correa, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Yakym, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
.
Sec. 2. Revising certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals
(a) In general
Section 1877 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting (other than a covered rural hospital (as defined in subsection (h)))
after a hospital
; and
(B)
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
(2)
in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(8) Covered rural hospital
The term
covered rural hospitalmeans a hospital that—(A)
is located in a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)); and
(B)
as of the date that such hospital enrolls under this title, is located more than a 35-mile drive (or, in the case of mountainous terrain or in areas with only secondary roads available, a 15-mile drive) from a hospital or a critical access hospital.
(b) Allowing for expansion of existing physician-Owned hospitals
Section 1877(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(i)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)(B), by striking in paragraph (3)
and inserting in paragraph (3) or (7)
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(7) Sunset of expansion prohibition
The requirement described in paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.