Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Malpractice Reform

Posted by Plus Master at 9:09 AM
 

Malpractice reform has always been a resoundingly popular idea with Republicans, which made the topic a perfect one for President Barack Obama to talk about in his recent address to Congress. George W. Bush had a "good idea" on malpractice reform, the President said--one he intended to pursue as part of a health-care overhaul. Cue a rare moment of bipartisan applause.

Both sides agree that current malpractice law--under which doctors pay as much as $200,000 a year for liability insurance--is often unfair and inefficient. But when it comes to fixing the system, consensus is not so simple. Democrats oppose a federal cap on "noneconomic damages" in malpractice cases--money awarded for pain and suffering--that Republicans and doctors want. Supporters call the caps, already in place in some states, a quick and easy way to reduce malpractice-insurance premiums. An obstetrician in Texas, where such damages are capped, could pay 20% of what a colleague is charged in Florida, where awards are unlimited.

Read the full story here on the TIME Magazine website.
POSTED IN Medical Professional

1 Responses to "Malpractice Reform"

PLUS how does viagra work Says: October 07, 2009 (7:10AM) In 2003 Texas enacted The Most Onerous malpractice bill in the country, HB4, which precludes homemakers and children from collecting more than their economic losses and caps CEOs killed in negligent surgery at $250,000. And for that Texas healthcare premiums have not dropped a penney. So for those screaming for med mal practice reform look carefully at Texas and you will see it does absolutely nothing to reduce healthcare premiums. IF there is any savings it has just been put in the pockets of health insurance companies. An is that what this whole controversy is about?
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