MINNEAPOLIS, February 27, 2008 - A bill calling for a permanent moratorium on the construction of independent radiation therapy facilities was passed by the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Policy Committee on Feb. 20.

The bill (S.F. 2667, H.F. 3265) would make permanent the moratorium, which currently expires in 2013, on construction of any new radiation therapy facilities in a 14-county area encompassing Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Anoka, Carver, Scott, St. Louis, Sherburne, Benton, Stearns, Chisago, Isanti and Wright counties.

Under the moratorium, a new radiation therapy facility can only be constructed in these counties if it is owned or operated by a hospital or hospital system.

The MMA opposes the moratorium on the basis that it creates artificial ownership requirements that don’t improve the quality of care patients receive.

The MMA sent a letter to lawmakers expressing the MMA’s opposition to the bill based on MMA policies that favor a market approach to health care rather than creating monopolies for certain providers.