April 9, 2025
Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Barrasso, and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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
(A) In general
The term
covered rural hospitalmeans 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)
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.