An estimated 10 percent of health care spending is the result of defensive medicine - tests, procedures, operations, and treatments aimed at shielding doctors from lawsuits. Enacting meaningful reforms of our medical justice system will ensure that affordable health care moves into the grasp of millions of Americans. Learn what the Health Caucus has to say about this issue
Video: A Question for the President
On July 1st, President Obama hosted a town hall meeting on the issue of health care. He invited questions submitted from the Internet. See what Health Caucus Chairman Michael Burgess asked...
Video: The President Responds
During the discussion, President Obama responded to Dr. Burgess' question...
Video: A Solution
Dr. Burgess highlights the success of placing caps on non-economic damages for medical justice.
Text: A Solution
Problem: Today, too many doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine and face the constant threat of lawsuits and unsustainable medical liability insurance rates, which results in millions of dollars in unnecessary tests and procdeucres. Furthermore, seasoned medical professionals are retiring early because staying in practice is no longer financially feasible, further contributing to our nation's doctor shortage. This is a growing crisis that is pushing affordable health care beyond the grasp of millions of Americans.
Prescription: National, across-the-board change in the medical justice system would lower costs and improve care by lessening the threat of overzealous trial attorneys and the unmerited lawsuits they often bring about. Health Caucus Chair Rep. Burgess has introduced the Medical Justice Act , H.R. 1468, which is modeled after the successful reforms Texas passed in 2003, and would enact these commonsense reforms on a national level. The results are documented reductions in liability insurance rates, reported growth in the number of doctors licensed each year, and increased charity care, among others.
Doctor's Order: Runaway lawsuits are unnecessary and costly, and reforming medical liability must be a part of the national health care debate.
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