S.17.5-5: More Doctors and Hospitals Act (Statute)

[Mr. Reactionary]

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Sponsor: Mr. Reactionary

[Mr. Reactionary]

Summary:

The goal of this bill is to increase the number of hospitals, doctors, and healthcare services. It also imposes certain rules for reducing the costs of providing healthcare services.

Section 1 prohibits localities from requiring new hospitals to have to prove that there is a need for them to exist prior to opening

Sections 2-3 allows for newer models of doctor organization when providing services.

Section 4 is an anti-kickback rule modeled after the IRL rule in the Medicare program to prevent overbilling

Section 5 requires healthcare providers to report  their minimum and maximum prices to the Insurance Commissioner created by my insurance reform bill, which would be posted in a public database.

Section 6 mandates best practices for treating certain chronic conditions that could result in repeat hospitalizations.

Section 7 allows nurses and optometrists to do more to reduce demand on more expensive doctors.

Section 8 allows the States to investigate unfair billing and recoup a portion of fraud money recovered. That creates an incentive to investigate fraudulent billing practices and creates a new funding source for State governments.

Section 9 exempts hospitals which provide a certain amount of charitable indigent care each year from property taxes.

Section 10 prohibits doctors and nurses from violating their hippocratic oath and striking against the public good

Section 11 authorizes a study on how much money it would cost to provide telemedicine portals in public schools. This would include potential revenue from allowing insurers to rent the portals.

Section 12 authorizes a study on how much money it would cost for each State to open a government-run hospital specializing primarily in subsidized indigent care. It also allows for bulk purchasing agreements with prescription drug manufacturers to reduce costs.

Section 13 authorizes a study on how much money it would cost to increase Medical School funding, create a medical school scholarship program, and offer loan forgiveness to medical school graduates who serve in poor areas.

Section 14 rather than an individual mandate, is a minor surcharge on medical tourists who haven’t paid into our Regional system.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

I like it, no objections here.

[Mr. Reactionary]

So does anyone else have any concerns or other ideas related to this bill? By increasing the supply of doctors and hospitals, that should have a downward pressure on healthcare prices regardless of what model we adopt regarding Atlascare. Some would be realized immediately and some would take some time for the system to respond. I would however like to try and finish this bill prior to reaching a decision on our Atlascare plan. Because this bill has more substance to it than some of the other bills we have been voting on, I do not intend on ending debate on this bill until later this week (or longer upon request). Still, if you have any questions or other ideas, please feel free to participate in the debate.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I am seeking unanimous consent to proceed with a final vote. 24 hours to object.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Unanimous consent is achieved. I hereby open a final vote to last 72 hours (until a bit after noon EST on Tuesday).

[Mr. Reactionary]

Aye

[Lechasseur]

Aye

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Aye

[Mr. Reactionary]

Reminder: a little over 26 hours left to vote.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Bill passes.

3-0-0; 4 NV

[Terry the Fat Shark]