A new hospital jointly owned by physicians and Methodist Health System in Dallas received Medicare certification just three days before the start of a ban on new physician-owned hospitals, according to a report by the Dallas Morning News.
The $60 million Methodist Hospital for Surgery in Addison, Texas, also co-owned by Nueterra Healthcare, opened Nov. 1 but lacked the Medicare certification needed to meet the Dec. 31 deadline for the ban, imposed by the healthcare reform law.
The hospital was intended to open in Jan. 2011 at the earliest, but when the reform law passed in March 2010, co-owners implemented an accelerated development plan, including carrying out construction in two 10-hour shifts for six days a week and speeding up training of staff on the equipment to earn certification on time. Equipment was delivered after each phase of construction, giving staff a head start on training.
Read the Dallas Morning News report on the Methodist Hospital for Surgery.
Read other coverage about physician-owned hospitals:
- Physician-Owned Hospital in Dallas Opens, Still Lacks Medicare Certification
- Kansas' Wesley Medical Center Buys Physician-Owned Heart Hospital
- Plaintiffs Will Appeal Dismissed Lawsuit Challenging Ban on Physician-Owned Hospitals
The $60 million Methodist Hospital for Surgery in Addison, Texas, also co-owned by Nueterra Healthcare, opened Nov. 1 but lacked the Medicare certification needed to meet the Dec. 31 deadline for the ban, imposed by the healthcare reform law.
The hospital was intended to open in Jan. 2011 at the earliest, but when the reform law passed in March 2010, co-owners implemented an accelerated development plan, including carrying out construction in two 10-hour shifts for six days a week and speeding up training of staff on the equipment to earn certification on time. Equipment was delivered after each phase of construction, giving staff a head start on training.
Read the Dallas Morning News report on the Methodist Hospital for Surgery.
Read other coverage about physician-owned hospitals:
- Physician-Owned Hospital in Dallas Opens, Still Lacks Medicare Certification
- Kansas' Wesley Medical Center Buys Physician-Owned Heart Hospital
- Plaintiffs Will Appeal Dismissed Lawsuit Challenging Ban on Physician-Owned Hospitals