Health Coalition Applauds Congress for Action on Medical Liability Reform

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Health Coalition on Liability and Access applauds Congress for passing legislation that will improve the nation's medical liability climate and ensure greater access to care for patients.

Yesterday, by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 92-8, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, which includes a provision to protect against the potential abuse of health care quality measures and payment methodologies.  The language, taken from the Standard of Care Protection Act, ensures that federal health care guidelines and regulations will not unintentionally open up new avenues for the pursuit of meritless lawsuits.  The House of Representatives passed this bill last month by a vote of 392-37.

"Under the bill that passed the House and Senate, health care providers need no longer fear that federal health care programs may be used, outside their intended purpose, to create new causes of action for medical liability lawsuits," said Mike Stinson, HCLA Chair. "We are pleased with the bipartisan work of Congress to protect the physician-patient relationship as well as the integrity of federal programs intended to improve our health care system."

The bipartisan bill now heads to White House for signature, with an indication that it will be signed into law by President Obama.

For more details, visit www.hcla.org. The Health Coalition on Liability and Access is a national advocacy coalition representing physicians, hospitals, health care liability insurers, employers, health care providers and consumers. HCLA believes federal legislation is needed to bring fairness, timeliness and cost-effectiveness to America's medical liability system.

SOURCE Health Coalition on Liability and Access

Related Links

http://www.hcla.org