Ms. Sandvig’s updates included the following:
▪ "The SCHIP bill appears to be moving quickly, with added pressure from the White House to get a passable bill on the President’s desk as soon as possible. Therefore, this week will most likely be the last full week we have to affect the language currently on HR 2."
▪ "The Senate is scheduled to begin debate on its version of the SCHIP legislation today, Monday, Jan. 26. At this time the Senate bill, S. 275, does not include language on physician ownership of hospitals. To date no amendments have been filed that would add such a provision; however, that can change and PHA and its allies are closely monitoring all possibilities. The debate is expected to run through Thursday, Jan. 29, with final Senate passage expected that day. At that point the bill will go back to the House for further consideration."
▪ "PHA has just recently learned that the House is considering accepting the Senate SCHIP language in order to facilitate the process of getting a bill on the President’s desk as quickly as possible. However, during compromise negotiations, the House may very well choose to accept the substantive language of the final Senate bill, while adding physician hospitals back into the mix."
Ms. Sandvig called for members to continue their efforts in contacting "all Democratic House members who have physician-owned hospitals in their districts or projects underway and ask them to contact Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel to object to the damaging impact the House passed language (HR 2) would have on their districts."
In addition, Ms. Sandvig informed members that "two very positive appointments were made to the Senate Finance Committee. Senators Cornyn (TX) and Enzi (WY) were added and are certain to add much needed support for our existing friends on committee, such as Senators Kyl (AZ) and Crapo (ID)."
Learn more about Physician Hospitals of America.
