?While we are disappointed that the physician self-referral provision has been taken out of the Farm Bill, it is clear that Congress?s commitment to banning this harmful practice remains strong,? says Rick Pollack, the AHA’s executive vice president, in a statement. He goes on to urge Congress to add anti-physician-hospital language to other bills.
In fact "other bills" may include the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill.
"This bill, originally intended to cover just war costs, will now have a variety of domestic dollars and policies added to it," writes Molly Sandvig, JD, executive director of Physician Hospitals of America. " The White House and many Republicans are not happy with these types of additions. However, to succeed we will once again need to be very vigilant and strident in support of physician ownership."
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