(Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3962, the Pelosi health care bill, would have a significant impact on the Texas economy and existing physician-owned hospitals and the quality of health care in my home State of Texas.
Texas leads the Nation with 50 physician-owned hospitals. But under this bill, these hospitals will be prohibited from adding beds or otherwise increasing capacity. Medicare payments to any new doctor-owned hospitals would be prohibited.
According to a January 2009 study by Health Economics' Study Group, physician-owned hospitals employ over 22,000 Texans and have a net economic impact of $2.3 billion on the Texas economy. The Pelosi health care bill will have a significant impact on the economy and, more importantly, the quality of care that these hospitals provide our communities.
It's wrong to pay for government health care by punishing these providers.