Currently, Texas has the most physician-owned hospitals, with 67, and 50 more are in development, according to the report. Under the current legislation, physician-owned hospitals that did not receive Medicare licenses prior to Jan. 1, 2009, would not be allowed to treat Medicare patients.
Rep. Lee would grandfather physician-owned hospitals currently under development, allowing them to provide treatment to Medicare patients. The second amendment would allow physician-owned hospitals that treat a disproportionate amount of uninsured patients to expand, according to the report.
Texas representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas), Sam Johnson (R-Plano), Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) among others support Rep. Lee’s efforts.
The House Rules Committee will decide Nov. 6 whether it will accept any amendments and may vote on the bill as soon as Nov. 7.
Read the Morning News’s report about Texas Representatives’ support of physician-owned hospitals.
