Republican Health Care Task Force Offers Medical Liability Solutions for Patients, Physicians

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Coalition on Liability and Access and its grassroots membership of patients and physicians welcomed the inclusion of medical liability reforms, including reasonable limits on non-economic damages, in the report issued today by the GOP Health Care Task Force.

Led by House Speaker Paul Ryan, the health care reform framework and proposal offered by Republicans aims to empower patients, make the health system more accessible and affordable, and spur medical innovation.

"We know that comprehensive medical liability reform that includes caps on non-economic damages will improve patients' access to quality care while reducing the overall cost of health care in America," the report states. "Our plan will include liability reform that includes caps on non-economic damage awards, ensuring plaintiffs can recover full economic damages and that patients will not have their damages taken away by excessive lawyer contingency fees."

These reforms have proven effective in states like California and Texas, where patients have greater access to critical care, and health care costs and liability premiums remain affordable.   

"The HCLA will work with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, as well as the new administration, to bring together leaders that will make these patient protection efforts a reality," said Mike Stinson, HCLA chair. "Reducing medical lawsuit abuse, maintaining the integrity of the liability system for deserving patients and preserving patient access to care remain central to the mission of our health care coalition, and we're pleased that many of the ideas in the task force's plan are already embraced in a bipartisan way."

The report also included proposals of state-based reforms, in order to pursue non-traditional ways to reduce medical lawsuit abuse and health care costs.

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 The Health Coalition on Liability and Access