H.R. 2191/S. 1390
Physician-Led Hospitals Coalition Letter
We, the 88 undersigned organizations that represent physicians, payers and patients, support the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, H.R. 2191/S.1390. This critical bipartisan and bicameral legislation offers an innovative and practical solution to the growing healthcare crisis devastating rural America. Rural healthcare is at a crisis point. In many rural areas, the local EMS agency is the only remaining healthcare provider. Nearly 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closure due to severe financial pressures, which places millions of Americans in healthcare deserts without timely access to care. For many, this means traveling long distances and enduring significant delays to receive even the most basic medical treatment. A 2019 study by Altarum found that the economic impact of time spent traveling and waiting for healthcare costs Americans $89 billion annually. The Physician-Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act empowers physician-led hospitals to play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by:
- Allowing new physician-led hospitals to be established in rural areas, offering underserved communities access to high-quality care where it is desperately needed.
- Expanding existing physician-led hospitals that are currently restricted under the Affordable Care Act from growing to meet the evolving needs of their communities.
Physician-led hospitals have a proven track record of delivering high-quality care at lower costs, while maintaining a patient-centered approach. Research consistently shows these hospitals achieve better clinical outcomes, heightened efficiency, and significant savings for programs like Medicare. Furthermore, empowering physician leadership in rural healthcare provision will help reduce consolidation that too often limits access and drives higher costs for rural residents.
Millions of Americans living in underserved areas deserve better. This legislation brings a clear, community-driven solution by strengthening the partnership between patients and physicians and revitalizing access to healthcare in rural regions.
Click here to view the full Neurosurgery Supports the Physician-Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, HR 2191/S. 1390
