H.R. 2191

119 HR 2191 IH: Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-03-18
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2191  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   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   A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise 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)
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)
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.
 .