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H.R. 1638

Physician Availability Act of 2015

Physician Availability Act of 2015

Requires each covered hospital to have a qualified physician available in the hospital at all times to attend to the needs of the hospital's inpatients. Defines a "covered hospital" to: (1) include hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid or receiving federal funds, and (2) exclude hospitals in a federal facility or hospitals that the Department of Health and Human Services determines have fewer than 100 licensed beds.

Considers a physician to be available if: (1) the physician is physically present in the hospital; (2) the physician's primary responsibility is to be in attendance to serve the needs of the hospital's inpatients without delay; and (3) the physician is not physically present in, assigned to, serving in, or expected to cover the hospital's emergency room or emergency department.

Sets forth penalties for violations.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9](D-IL)Sponsor
1committees4actions3subjects
  1. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  2. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  3. IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  4. IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Physician Availability Act of 2015 — Informed