119-HR2191
Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
Last action was on 3-18-2025
SenateCurrent status is 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.
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2191
1. Short title2. Revising certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the "Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act".
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) Covered rural hospital - in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(8) Covered rural hospital - The term "covered rural hospital" means 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) Sunset of expansion prohibition - 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.