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The AHA and Federation of ����������s today urged Congress to oppose  and any other legislation that would repeal or weaken current law limiting self-referral to physician-owned hospitals.
 
“For more than two decades, community hospitals, policymakers, the business community and governmental advisory bodies have grappled with overutilization and higher health care costs caused by self-referral to physician-owned hospitals,” the organizations wrote. “Conflicts of interest are inherent in these arrangements, whereby physicians refer their patients to hospitals in which they have an ownership interest. … Current law is working exactly as planned to protect taxpayers and ensure a more level playing field — one that promotes fair competition. It is a carefully crafted policy with an important safeguard that permits limited expansion of grandfathered hospitals to meet demonstrated community need.”