First Comprehensive Study on Physician Owned Hospital Industry Refutes Opponents Claims

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, BMJ published the first comprehensive study that focused on the physician owned hospital (POH) industry. The paper, titled, "Access, quality, and costs of care at physician owned hospitals in the United States: observational study," [http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4466] is unique as the authors utilized a comprehensive list of POHs across the United States for the first time to study the industry. Previous research had been limited to only a handful of POHs that are not representative of the industry today.

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The authors have identified that opponents of the POH industry have grossly overstated previous research to their advantage, as the authors conclude no evidence that POHs systematically avoid poorer patients or those from ethnic and racial minority groups for more profitable ones. The quality of care provided by POHs was "equal to, or in some cases better than, care at other institutions across a range of metrics, including process measures, mortality rates, and readmissions rates." Finally, costs and Medicare payments at POHs were similar to, or lower than, those at non-POHs.  The authors believe their findings indicate a need to re-examine existing public policies that target hospitals with physician owners.

The current policy, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, does not allow new POHs to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients nor does it allow grandfathered POHs to expand if they want to continue to serve this patient population.

Dr. Blake Curd, President of the Physician Hospitals of America stated, "The law is ridiculous and the most un-American thing I have ever heard of - restricting someone's ability to engage in commerce because of the educational degree they have obtained.  This policy is not consistent with any American ideal I am familiar with.  It was put in the bill so the big hospital lobby would support the ACA."

Dr. Curd went on to add, "This study shows what we have been saying for years.  When the study is combined with the latest CMS data on quality and patient satisfaction, our industry epitomizes the goals of sound healthcare delivery. Congress should correct the current policy that is bad for patients who have limited access to some of the best hospitals in the country."

About Physician Hospitals of America
PHA offers support, advocacy and educational services to the physician-owned hospital industry, reflecting at all times the best interests of patients, physicians and other providers who play an inextricable and essential role in the provision of healthcare services. These hospitals include general acute care, long term acute care, emergency medicine, multi-specialty, women's, children's, rehabilitation and psychiatric. According to its HCAHPS survey data, physician-owned hospitals rank first for patient satisfaction in 20 states. For more survey data, visit www.phapulse.org. For more information about PHA, visit www.physicianhospitals.org.

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SOURCE Physician Hospitals of America

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