254539 Does malpractice tort reform control health care costs and improve access?: Evidence from the states

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Johnathon Samuel Ross, MD MPH , University of Toledo College of Medicine, Dept. of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH
     
Some policy experts have held that malpractice reform with financial limits on the awards for injury and loss will significantly control health care costs and improve access to care. Data from the states suggests that there is no significant relationship between those states with major malpractice and tort reform and state level health care costs or coverage. Possible explanations for this lack relationship will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Identify those states with significant tort reform efforts Compare those states that have enacted strong tort reform to those without reform with regard to cost control and access to coverage. Evaluate the likelihood that tort reform if enacted nationally would reduce costs and improve access to care.

Keywords: Health Reform, Health Law

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Toledo, I have published and lectured on health reform over the past 30 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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