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The AOA recently joined coalitions of national and state medical organizations in letters to advance legislation that expands access to physician-led care and addresses harmful consolidation in hospital markets. The letters call on the support of the following bills:
H.R. 4002 – Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act
AOA joined a coalition supporting repeal of restrictions on physician-owned hospitals (POHs). Coalition partners note that POHs deliver high-quality care, lower costs, and increase local competition, while current law blocks new facilities and limits expansion without evidence of “cherry-picking.”
H.R. 2191 / S. 1390 – Physician-Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act
AOA also supports legislation addressing the crisis in rural care. Nearly 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, and travel/wait time already costs Americans $89 billion annually. The bill would allow new physician-led hospitals in rural areas and enable existing facilities to expand to meet community needs.
These efforts aim to strengthen patient access, improve outcomes and increase competition through physician-led models.