Restoring Rights of Physicians to Own Hospitals Act

This bill would lift federal limits that block doctors from owning hospitals. It removes rules added under the Affordable Care Act that made it hard for physician-owned hospitals and rural providers to qualify for exceptions under the self-referral law. By striking those parts of the law, it would open the door for new doctor-owned hospitals and allow existing ones to grow and change more easily.

Key changes include ending requirements that a hospital must have had physician ownership by late 2010, could not add more beds or rooms after March 2010 (with only narrow exceptions), had to follow extra ownership disclosure rules, faced stricter limits on financial arrangements, had to meet special patient notice rules about physician availability, and could not be created by converting from a surgery center after March 2010.

• Who is affected: Physician-owned hospitals, rural providers, doctors who want to invest in hospitals, and patients in communities served by these hospitals.
• What changes: The bill repeals the added limits and conditions for these hospitals, allowing new ownership, expansion of beds and rooms, and fewer special disclosure and financial restrictions tied to physician ownership .
• When: The text provided does not state an effective date; it repeals the listed provisions in the law.