Bill includes provision to crack down on doctor-owned hospitals

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 6, 2008

A U.S. House-passed bill that would require equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses when policies cover both also includes a provision to crack down on physician-owned hospitals. Opponents immediately said they would fight the hospital proposal during House-Senate negotiations. Traditional hospitals have long complained that boutique hospitals cherry-pick the best patients and skimp on charity care, but supporters contend they offer patients a choice and beef up competition.