Health Coalition Encouraged by Congressional and Administration Support of Medical Liability Reform

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) applauded Congress and the Administration for supporting passage of medical liability reform in the 115^th Congress.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, the House Judiciary Committee approved the Protecting Access to Care Act, a comprehensive medical liability reform bill introduced by Representative Steve King (R-IA).

The Protecting Access to Care Act, H.R. 1215, is modeled after proven reforms already in place in Texas, California, and many other states around the country that have had a positive effect on increasing patient access to care and keeping health care costs affordable for patients and physicians.

Later Tuesday evening, President Trump expressed his support for medical liability reforms in his address to a Joint Session of Congress.

"…We should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance," President Trump stated.

"The HCLA is pleased that the House of Representatives and President Trump recognize the need for comprehensive federal medical liability reform, and have made a commitment to address this issue as a key priority in the 115^th Congress," said HCLA Chair Mike Stinson. "We will work to increase the momentum we achieved on Tuesday so that we may implement vital changes to our medical liability system to keep patient care safe, affordable and accessible."

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