Calls on Congress to Enact Reform Without Delay

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Health Coalition on Liability and Access today commended President Obama for his support of medical liability reform and his willingness to work with Republicans and Democrats in the Congress to fix our nation's broken medical liability system. The group now calls on Congress to enact comprehensive medical liability reform laws that have a proven track record of success.

Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Obama said, "Still, I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down [health care] costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits."

"The HCLA applauds the president for his leadership and support of medical liability reform, and stands ready to work with Congress and the Administration to pass federal legislation to stop medical lawsuit abuse," said HCLA Chair Mike Stinson.

"There is widespread, bipartisan agreement among lawmakers, health care policy experts, opinion leaders, the media, and the public that the current system is broken and does not serve the needs of patients.  Unfortunately, personal injury lawyers and their powerful political allies are committed to preserving the status quo and have repeatedly blocked reform in the U.S. Senate. It's time Senators follow the President's lead and pass comprehensive medical liability reform," Stinson continued.

"States across the country, like California and Texas, have enacted reforms that have succeeded in improving patient access to care and reducing health care costs. These state efforts should be a model for reform at the federal level. The HEALTH Act (H.R. 5) introduced earlier this week in the U.S. House of Representatives is an excellent example of how to preserve existing state laws while expanding the benefits of medical liability reform across the nation," Stinson added.

Medical lawsuit abuse drives up health care costs. While estimates vary widely, the Congressional Budget Office said that medical liability reform would result in cost savings to the federal budget of $54 billion over the next ten years.  In addition, the staggering number of meritless lawsuits is changing the way doctors practice medicine. In 2009, 64 percent of all medical liability cases were withdrawn, dropped or dismissed as being without merit, and less than one percent resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff.

For more details, visit www.hcla.org. The Health Coalition on Liability and Access is a national advocacy coalition representing physicians, hospitals, health care liability insurers, employers, health care providers and consumers. HCLA believes federal legislation is needed to bring fairness, timeliness and cost-effectiveness to America's medical liability system.

SOURCE Health Coalition on Liability and Access

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