Due to the efforts of Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Ways & Means chairman, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has agreed to meet separately with representatives to discuss the issues of physician ownership. PHA is encouraging its members to contact their representatives to attend the meeting in support of their hospitals.
The American Medical Association also issued a letter in support of HR 3200, which contained their exception to the language against physician ownership of hospitals and supported Mr. Johnson’s motion to strike it from the bill, according to the release.
Brett Gosney, president of the PHA board of directors, also issued a statement against Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who have cited the death of a patient at a physician-owned hospital in Colorado as an argument against physician ownership.
“As recently as last week, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released national data, which again shows significantly better outcomes for patients at hospitals owned and operated by physicians,” Mr. Gosney said in the statement. He also accused the senators of getting their information solely from opponents of the PHA.
PHA is asking members and supporters to contact House members on the Energy & Commerce Committee, who are currently in the mark-up phase of the healthcare reform package, and to invite their members of Congress to tour their hospitals over the August recess.
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