Restoring Rights of Physicians to Own Hospitals Act

HR 2860, the "Restoring Rights of Physicians to Own Hospitals Act," removes restrictions preventing physicians from owning hospitals under specific circumstances. It amends Section 1877 of the Social Security Act to repeal requirements that barred physician ownership in rural healthcare settings and hospital exception programs. This change directly affects physicians seeking to own hospitals, particularly in rural areas where ownership was previously restricted. The bill’s key mechanism is the deletion of specific subsections (d)(2)(C), (d)(3)(D), and (i) that created these prohibitions. The policy change simplifies ownership rules for physicians without altering broader Medicare payment structures.