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HR 2388 111th Congress House Health Health facilities and institutions Health personnel Hospital care

Physician Availability Act of 2009

Introduced: May 13, 2009 Introduced by: Schakowsky, Janice D. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 14, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 13, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 13, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Physician Availability Act of 2009 - Requires each covered hospital to have a qualified physician available in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 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 Secretary 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.

What's happening now May 14, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2388: Physician Availability Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2388/
MLA
"H.R. 2388: Physician Availability Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2388/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2388, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2388/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2388: Physician Availability Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2388/)
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