WASHINGTON, D.C, Feb. 28, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physicians, nurses, patients and advocates for physician ownership of hospitals are heading to Capitol Hill on March 2 to ask their Senators and Representatives to reverse Section 6001 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Section 6001 imposes punitive limits on physician ownership of hospitals, prohibits expansion of existing physician owned hospitals (POHs) and bars new construction. Since passage of Section 6001 last March, nearly 40 hospital projects have been cancelled; more than 40 nearly finished hospital construction projects have been thrown in limbo and 30 expansions of existing hospitals have been stopped cold. These facilities could provide economic relief in the form of $200 million in tax revenue and 30,000 jobs to local communities.
"We are committed as physicians and hospital owners to provide the highest quality of care for the communities in which we serve and reside," said Dr. Michael Russell, PHA President. "We are heading to Capitol Hill to fight for the 285 communities we serve in 34 states, and the millions of patients who entrust us with their care." According to the government's HCAHPS survey data, physician owned hospitals rank first for quality in 20 states.
Physician owned hospitals include general acute care, long term acute care, emergency medicine, multispecialty, women's, children's, rehabilitation and psychiatric facilities.
In addition to generating jobs and tax revenue, physician owned hospitals pour millions into local businesses, collectively spending $4.2 billion per year on local goods and services. The facilities that have been put on hold by Section 6001 would provide care for approximately 300,000 patients. With 30 million additional patients entering the insurance rolls, this country needs more high-performing hospitals – not fewer.
For more information visit: www.physicianhospitals.org.
Contact:
Leslie Fossey
(903) 539-7712 / leslie@azaleaortho.com
Scott Christiansen
(312) 961-4745 / scott@physicianhospitals.org
This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com