AAOS Supports Legislation to Enhance Healthcare Accessibility in Rural Areas

The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has once again reiterated its commitment to expanding access to high-quality healthcare for patients, especially those in rural areas. Recently, they endorsed the reintroduction of the
Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 2191), a critical piece of legislation spearheaded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Lou Correa (D-CA).

This legislation aims to address the significant healthcare access challenges faced by rural communities by expanding existing physician-led hospitals. The AAOS has expressed its strong support through a letter outlining key benefits, such as:

1. Ensuring Access for Millions: By lifting the ban on physician ownership of hospitals, the act aims to guarantee that millions of rural Americans have better access to necessary healthcare services.
2. Combating Monopolies: It seeks to limit healthcare consolidation that often leads to monopolies, ensuring competitive healthcare prices and quality.
3. Rescuing Rural Hospitals: The act could provide much-needed opportunities to save rural hospitals that are at risk of closure.

According to Dr. Adam Bruggeman, chair of the AAOS Advocacy Council, “When physicians lead hospitals, patients win.” He emphasized that physician-led healthcare infrastructures offer substantial benefits in reducing costs, enhancing quality, and expanding access to care, particularly in underserved rural regions.

A Look Back at Historical Growth

The need for physician-led hospitals surged from the early 2000s onwards, with numbers rising from fewer than 70 to approximately 250 by 2010. This growth was due to demand for acute care facilities and the advantages of specialized healthcare operations. However, after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, the expansion of physician-led hospitals was effectively halted. The ACA included provisions that barred the creation of new hospitals led by physicians and restricted existing ones from expanding.

H.R. 2191 introduces significant modifications, allowing the establishment of new physician-led hospitals in rural areas, provided they are situated over 35 miles from any existing hospital or critical access facility. Additionally, it permits physician-led hospitals that had been grandfathered to undertake expansion.

The AAOS previously joined forces with a coalition of 86 medical organizations that urged Congress to eliminate the bans on physician-led hospitals and move forward with the passage of H.R. 2191. The coalition's letter highlighted how these hospitals consistently deliver higher-quality care at lower costs compared to other healthcare facilities.

The AAOS Commitment to Quality Care

The AAOS was founded with the mission of providing the highest quality musculoskeletal care possible. For millions of rural Americans, the existence of physician-led hospitals is a crucial component in ensuring access to quality healthcare. Dr. Annunziato Amendola, AAOS president, underscores the invaluable role that the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act plays in delivering affordable, high-quality care to underserved communities.

In conclusion, the AAOS’s advocacy for this legislation not only reaffirms its dedication to improving healthcare access but also addresses the broader systemic issues that plague the current healthcare landscape. For ongoing updates and detailed information about AAOS advocacy efforts, visit their official advocacy page.