FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2017
Contact: John Richardson
Executive Director, PHA
(202) 367-1113
john@physicianhospitals.org
SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD (R-OK) INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PHYSICIAN-OWNED HOSPITALS & HEALTHCARE STAKEHOLDERS EXPRESS SUPPORT
WASHINGTON, DC – Physician Hospitals of America (PHA) applauds Senator James Lankford (R-OK) for introducing important legislation that will improve patient access to physician-led hospitals. The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017 would repeal the ban on physician-owned hospitals enacted in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act. This important bill – a companion to H.R. 1156 introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) in the U.S. House of Representatives – lifts restrictions on the formation and expansion of these high-quality, low-cost facilities. “We applaud Senator Lankford for supporting high quality, more affordable care options for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Once enacted, this bill will improve patient access, increase quality and competition, and lower the cost of care,” stated Dr. Blake Curd, President of Physician Hospitals of America.
Dr. Curd added, “Medicare and Medicaid patients deserve access to physician-owned hospitals because we are among the highest quality performers in the nation,” based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding overall quality, value-based purchasing (VBP), and readmissions.
The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program administered by CMS rewards hospitals for high quality of care and patient satisfaction. In FY 2017, 7 of the top 10 hospitals with the highest overall performance in the program were physician-owned. In fact, 40 of the top 100 performing hospitals in the CMS VBP program in FY 2017 are physician-owned, even though they represent only 5% of participating hospitals. Physician-owned hospitals also result in significant savings for Medicare. An analysis of CMS payment data demonstrated that physician-owned hospitals save Medicare $3.2 billion over a ten-year period.
Dr. Frederic Liss, a PHA Board Member, noted that physician-owned hospitals “stand ready to enhance choice and competition for patients,” in an increasingly consolidated hospital environment. He added that “physician-led patient care allows for greater innovation in health services and enhances the doctor-patient relationship.”
Physician Hospitals of America is joined in its support for Senator Lankford’s legislation by dozens of other leading national and state healthcare organizations. The following is a list of stakeholders who recently co-signed a letter of support for this important legislation:
American Academy of Otolaryngology
American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives
American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons
American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association for Hand Surgery
American College of Cardiology
American College of Surgeons
American Medical Association
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
American Osteopathic Association
American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Arthroscopy Association of North America
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
National Association of Spine Specialists
OrthoForum
Scoliosis Research Society
Rothman Institute
Premier Orthopedics
Peachtree Orthopedics
Ortho Georgia
Signature Medical Group
Connecticut Orthopaedic Society
Colorado Orthopaedic Society
Delaware Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Idaho Medical Association
Illinois State Medical Society
Indiana Orthopaedic Society
Iowa Orthopaedic Society
Kansas Orthopaedic Society
Minnesota Orthopaedic Society
Missouri State Medical Association
Medical Association of Georgia
Medical Society of Virginia
Maryland Orthopaedic Association
Maryland State Medical Society
Massachusetts Orthopaedic Society
Nebraska Medical Association
New Jersey Orthopaedic Society
New Mexico Medical Society
Ohio Orthopaedic Society
Orthopaedic Society of Oklahoma
South Dakota State Orthopaedic Society
Tennessee Medical Association
Texas Medical Association
Texas Orthopaedic Association
Utah State Orthopaedic Society
Washington State Orthopaedic Association
Wyoming Medical Association