Health Coalition on Liability and Access testifies before House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee

Apr 8 2011

The Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) testified today before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a hearing titled, "The Cost of the Medical Liability System Proposals for Reform, including H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011."

Troy M. Tippett, MD, a Florida neurosurgeon representing the HCLA, emphasized to committee members that "our medical liability system is broken and it is time to protect patients now by passing H.R. 5 and passing it quickly."

With neurosurgery topping the list of physicians most likely to be targeting by personal injury lawyers, Dr. Tippett understands the potential consequences of inaction. As he told Congress, "In the years ahead, we can expect this kind of avoidance behavior will inevitably lead to increasing shortages of doctors, particularly in high-risk specialties." 

Today's hearing is the second this year to underscore the critical need to reform our nation's broken medical liability system. 

Medical liability reform would not only have a positive impact on access to care, it would help close an ever-widening budget gap. In a recent report, the Congressional Budget Office has determined that enacting comprehensive medical liability reform, including provisions included in the HEALTH Act, would reduce federal deficits by $62 billion between 2012 and 2021.

"Reform the medical liability system before health care costs go higher and patient access to quality care worsens," urged Dr. Tippett in prepared testimony.  "Before defensive medicine and doctor shortages change the health care system that serves this country and its people so well.  Before the doctor-patient relationship is irretrievably damaged.  Before it's too late."