Medical Malpractice News and Research

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Malpractice reform in spotlight, earns mixed reviews

"Republican lawmakers have long touted federal tort reform as way to bring down health-care costs. Democrats are coming around to the same position in response to what they've heard from constituents. ... President Barack Obama recently raised the issue as an olive branch to Republicans, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to spend $25 million to help states and health-care systems try alternative methods of resolving malpractice allegations."

21 Sep 2009

White house offers $25 million for medical malpractice projects

The Obama administration announced $25 million in new grants for pilot programs to explore alternatives to the medical malpractice system.

21 Sep 2009

First edition: September 18, 2009

Today's coverage shows that all sides of the health overhaul debate are breaking down the specifics of the Baucus reform bill and developing their strategies and plans for next steps.

18 Sep 2009

Small medical liability grant program will not be effective: U.S. Chamber

"While we are encouraged that the Obama Administration has made medical liability reform part of their overall health care package, the $25 million state grant program announced today amounts to about 1/40,000th of one percent of the cost of a one trillion dollar health care bill.

18 Sep 2009

Leahy bill pushes antitrust laws

CQ Politics reports on new legislation to subject insurers to antitrust laws: "The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday introduced legislation to repeal health and medical malpractice insurers' exemption from federal antitrust laws.

18 Sep 2009

Republican wish list has stark differences and surprising similarities to Democratic proposals

The Republican leadership lacks a flagship health reform plan, but a variety of ideas and proposals have emerged from rank-and-file members that outline the party's reform principles, Kaiser Health News reports.

18 Sep 2009

Summa Health System responds to healthcare reform

As the health insurance reform debate continues in Washington, D.C. and around the country, Summa Health System provides the following response to the latest developments in the debate and the potential impact on Summa. As a system, Summa continues to inform the debate by sharing its perspective on various policy changes and urges adoption of policies that would impact its patients' health in a positive way, including efforts to expand affordable health insurance to those without coverage.

18 Sep 2009

Baucus plan gives a nod to GOP ideas

KHN reports that "[t]he Senate Finance Committee bill unveiled Wednesday by chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., contains several provisions that were inspired by Republicans, including testing new ways to handle medical malpractice cases, creating avenues for consumers to cross state lines to buy insurance and immediately launching a high-risk pool that would cover people with pre-existing medical conditions" (Pianin and Appleby, 9/17).

18 Sep 2009

Obama to student audience: Health reform is 'defining struggle of this generation'

"Calling health insurance reform a 'defining struggle of this generation,' President Barack Obama told thousands of college students Thursday that Congress must resist scare tactics and false accusations to do a makeover."

18 Sep 2009

Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights opposes cuts to Medicare

The doctor-led Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights (Coalition) urged caution to legislators and the public as they consider Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus’s healthcare reform proposal, America's Healthy Future Act of 2009, which was released today.

17 Sep 2009

Lawmakers may wage jurisdiction fight over medical malpractice reform

Roll Call reports that the Senate Finance Committee could clash with the Senate Judiciary Committee if they try to amend their health reform bill to scale back medical malpractice lawsuits.

17 Sep 2009

Baucus unveils much-anticipated Senate Finance version of health overhaul legislation

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled his version of a health overhaul bill, which has no public option and requires most people to have health insurance coverage.

16 Sep 2009

Obama's malpractice proposal falls flat for GOP and Democratic contributors

Trial lawyers have used lobbying and fundraising clout to avert malpractice reform for decades, Politico reports. "Given that their political donations went overwhelmingly to Democrats — generally, by a 3-to-1 ratio — this should be a period of respite. But it won't be, now that President Barack Obama has injected tort reform into the health care reform debate" (Cummings, 9/15).

16 Sep 2009

Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery shares views on medical tourism

In light of the economy and rising unemployment, people are looking to cut costs wherever they can. As the costs of many surgeries and procedures continue to rise in the US, many are looking for cheaper alternatives abroad. This big business is known as "medical tourism," and often promises healthcare options at a fraction of the cost as in the United States. However, this is one area where bargain shopping is not recommended, counsels Dr. David B. Samadi, Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

15 Sep 2009

First edition: September 15, 2009

Today's headlines zero in on the soon-to-be unveiled Baucus health bill. Reports indicate it likely will address many GOP concerns but also raising new issues for some Democrats.

15 Sep 2009

Senate negotiators find common ground

Health care negotiations progress as bipartisan Senators find common ground and the Senate Finance Committee prepares to release a compromise plan this week.

14 Sep 2009

Baucus plans last attempt at bipartisan bill, Dems acknowledge moderates' key role

This week is crucial for Sen. Max Baucus, who is trying to win bipartisan support from his Senate Finance Committee negotiators. If not, he is likely to join a Democrat-only effort to reform the health care system.

14 Sep 2009

Republicans: Malpractice reform demonstration projects insufficient

The Associated Press: "In his Wednesday speech and again in (a CBS "60 Minutes" interview), the president signaled he was open to so-called tort reform. Under current practice, doctors and hospitals must pay huge amounts to insure themselves against malpractice lawsuits by patients seeking large court-ordered settlements for poor treatment. … 'I would be willing to ... consider any ideas out there that would actually work in terms of reducing costs, improving the quality of patient care,' Obama said in the Sunday interview, which was taped Friday" (Hurst, 9/14).

14 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 14, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that the momentum behind including a public option in health reform may be losing steam.

14 Sep 2009

Gang of Six focus on thorny issues involved in health reform

After a Friday morning meeting, the Senate Finance Committee "Gang of Six" postponed "extensive discussion of the illegal immigration issue until Monday and said aides would be working on language on that and abortion over the weekend," the Associated Press reports.

14 Sep 2009