Rather, he says, it would allow hospitals and other institutions that oppose abortions to continue to have the right to refuse to provide them.

This is why the federal government recently published rules allowing hospitals and others to donate electronic health records to doctors.

Four years later it allowed hospitals to charge some fees.

Its new focus will be on determining whether previous mergers have actually benefited patients or simply allowed hospitals to charge more.

The proposal would also allow doctors and hospitals to investigate mistakes without fear that the information would later be used in lawsuits.

At its meeting Wednesday, the planning board considered allowing veterinary hospitals, provided the animals were kept indoors at all times.

By the early 1970s, public support including Medicaid allowed private hospitals to expand treatment for the poor.

Congress allowed hospitals only small increases in Medicare payments after hearing auditors testify about such overpayments.

Until now, the agency has been reluctant to allow hospitals in the region to acquire the new technology.

Starting in 1990, the veterans department allowed hospitals to recover money from private insurers for disabilities that did not originate during military duty.