Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

119 S1390 IS: Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act U.S. Senate 2025-04-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1390 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 9, 2025 Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Marshall , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Mullin , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Barrasso , and Mr. Budd ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act . 2. Revising certain physician self-referral exemptions relating to physician-owned hospitals (a) In general Section 1877 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395nn ) is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting (other than a covered rural hospital (as defined in subsection (h))) after a hospital ; and (B) in paragraph (3)(D), by inserting in the case of a hospital other than a covered rural hospital (as defined in subsection (h)), before the hospital ; and (2) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8) Covered rural hospital (A) In general The term covered rural hospital means a hospital that— (i) is located in a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)); and (ii) as of the date that such hospital enrolls under this title, meets the criteria described in clause (i)(I) of section 1820(c)(2)(B). (B) Clarification Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as requiring a covered rural hospital to meet any other criteria under section 1820(c)(2)(B). . (b) Allowing for expansion of existing physician-Owned hospitals Section 1877(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395nn(i) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking in paragraph (3) and inserting in paragraph (3) or (7) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Sunset of expansion prohibition The requirement described in paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph. .