Where do you stand on tort reform? Why isnt this being discussed as a way to reform our health care system?
I am open to well-thought out medical malpractice reform as part of the solution on health care reform. Right now there is no agreement on how reform could be achieved. Setting caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits has produced varied results. Some states with caps have seen their malpractice insurance rates increase more slowly than states without caps, but some states with caps have seen their rates increase faster than in states without caps. Capping damages cant be the only answer to solving our health care problems. But we do need to recognize that increased litigation and the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance has contributed somewhat to the overall rise in health care costs. We need to find a balance between curbing frivolous lawsuits while still protecting those patients who truly have been wronged. The new House health care reform bill establishes a new voluntary state program designed to encourage states to implement alternatives (early offer or
