Proposal to Restrict Physician Ownership of Hospitals Fails

CongressNow reports that a proposal to restrict physician ownership of hospitals has been removed from a farm bill. The measure had been proposed as a way to offset the costs of the $280 billion subsidy bill. Opponents of the provision charged that the move infringed upon the jurisdictions of several congressional committees and that any proposed cuts in Medicare reimbursement should be used to pay for health care instead of offsetting agricultural spending. Opponents also disapprove of legislation that would also essentially ban the growth of physician-owned hospitals.