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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 2191

Rep. Griffith Introduces the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act to Expand Hospital Options

Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill changes federal rules to make it easier for doctors to own and expand hospitals, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. It amends the physician self-referral law (Stark Law) that currently restricts physician-owned hospitals.

    From policy text

    “To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals.”
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  • New physician-owned hospitals would be allowed in rural areas if they are more than a 35-mile drive from the nearest hospital. In mountainous terrain or areas with only secondary roads, that threshold drops to just 15 miles.

    From policy text

    “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.”
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  • The bill removes the existing ban on expansion for all physician-owned hospitals — not just rural ones. Currently, these hospitals are frozen at their prior size. This change would let them add beds, operating rooms, and other capacity immediately upon enactment.

    From policy text

    “The requirement described in paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.”
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  • The bill has bipartisan support with both Republican and Democratic cosponsors from states like Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia. It was referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

    From policy text

    “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”
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Healthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 18, 2025House

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.

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Immediately upon enactment

Expansion freeze on existing physician-owned hospitals is lifted

All current physician-owned hospitals across the country would be free to add beds, operating rooms, and other capacity without the ACA-era restrictions that kept them frozen at their prior size.

Related Bills

1 bill
S. 1390Related bill

Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

Apr 9 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

Bill NumberHR 2191
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(32)
D: 6R: 26

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.