Doctors: Malpractice Costs the Biggest Money-Saver in Tort Reform

[Chris_]

Doctors: Malpractice Costs the Biggest Money-Saver in Tort Reform

Many physicians and Republican lawmakers were happy to hear President Obama raise the issue of medical malpractice in his address to Congress last week, but now are asking why the president wants to test "demonstration projects" when reforms have already proven successful on the state level.

"Whole states are demonstration projects," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas. "Texas passed tort reform in 2003 and ... insurance premiums went down 30 percent. California passed tort reform and premiums went down 40 percent. Let's enact tort reform. Let's not just try that with demonstration projects. We already know it works. Let's put it into law."

During his address to a joint session of Congress, the president argued that some lawmakers will resist any health care reforms. But then in a bid at bipartisanshop, he said he agreed with doctors -- and Republicans -- looking for changes to the way medical malpractice lawsuits are litigated.

"I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs," the president said. 

Smith said Texas has already proven the effect of tort reform on medical care.

MORE DOCTORS, LESS LAWYERS

[djones520]

If he had used the examples already there, he would then have to admit the Republicans where right all along about Tort Reform.  Now he can "give in" to them, and test the waters, ensure something is set up to skew the results, and then declare it a failure.