Hastings' Bill Would Preserve Health Care Choices, Protect Doctor-Owned Hospitals

Press Release

Congressman Doc Hastings (WA-04) has introduced legislation that would repeal part of the new health care law that arbitrarily bans new doctor-owned hospitals and restricts existing doctor-owned hospitals from growing to meet the needs of their communities.

"These restrictions are just another way the federal government is taking control of our health care by limiting choices, rationing care and dictating where, when and how Americans get their health care under the new law," said Hastings. "Something is just plain wrong when the federal government dictates that outside corporations can own hospitals, but local doctors cannot."

The new health care law prevents the constructions of doctor-owned hospitals after December 31, 2010, places new reporting mandates on doctor-owned hospitals only and severely restricts the ability of existing doctor-owned hospitals to add beds or expand services. Hastings' legislation would simply repeal these bans and restrictions, allowing doctor-owned hospitals to continue to meet the changing needs of their communities.

There are currently 260 doctor-owned hospitals operating in the United States and an additional 60 under development.

"Doctor-owned hospitals are important to ensuring that all Americans have access to quality hometown health care," said Hastings. "At a time when this Congress should increase health care choices, they are instead taking options for patients completely off the table."

Under the health care law the main campus of doctor-owned hospitals could only expand if they go through a to-be-determined set of bureaucratic hoops and win approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Decisions by the Secretary are final with no opportunity to appeal. Health clinics and other facilities not located o the hospital's main campus could never expand under the law.

"Decisions about the growth of local health care facilities and the needs of our communities should not be dictated to us from 3,000 miles away in Washington, DC," said Hastings. "Limiting access to health care, particularly in rural communities, will lead to longer waits, longer drives for patients and higher prices."

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