GOP Doctors Caucus Endorses Legislation to Improve Rural Health Care Access

Washington, D.C. - Today, the GOP Doctors Caucus announces its endorsement of H.R.2191, the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-quality care in rural and underserved communities.

"Healthcare for rural and underserved communities is drying up across the country, putting access to care for millions of Americans at risk," said Co-Chairs Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. & Rep. John Joyce, M.D. "Partially removing the ban on physician-owned hospitals to fill gaps in rural communities is both effective and financially sound. Further, physician-owned hospitals often provide larger Medicare savings than vertically consolidated systems, creating downward pressure on skyrocketing costs. This legislation provides meaningful reform for those in communities lacking sufficient access to care or at risk of losing it."

Background
H.R.2191, the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, would allow physician ownership in rural hospitals that are more than a 35-mile drive (15 miles in extremely remote areas) from a main patient campus or critical access hospital and eliminate restrictions on existing physician-owned hospitals.