119-S1390

Bill is currently in: Senate
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House Senate President

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1390

1. Short title
2. Revising certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals

1. 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

(A) In general - The term "covered rural hospital" means a hospital that—

(i) - is located in a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)); and

(ii) - as of the date that such hospital enrolls under this title, meets the criteria described in clause (i)(I) of section 1820(c)(2)(B).

(B) Clarification - Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as requiring a covered rural hospital to meet any other criteria under section 1820(c)(2)(B).

(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.