Federal Legislative Activities
The AMA continues with efforts to advance federal legislation on medical liability reforms, including H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2011 and H.R. 816, the Provider Shield Act of 2011. H.R. 5 includes time tested reforms similar to reforms in California and Texas such as caps on non-economic damages. This federal bill also provides states with the flexibility to maintain or adopt their own limits on damages in health care lawsuits. In addition, states will continue to have a wide range of options for addressing medical liability and will be able to maintain or adopt stronger state protective laws. H.R. 816 ensures that the practice standards and guidelines for health care providers established by the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) do not lead to new causes of action against physicians and other health care professionals.The AMA also supports H.R. 3586, the “Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act,” which would ensure that health care professionals who wish to volunteer their services during a federally-declared disaster have adequate liability protections.
See below for AMA’s advocacy efforts in pursuit of federal medical liability reforms.
AMA letter to House Energy and Commerce re: H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, May 10, 2011
AMA letter of support for H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, January 24, 2011
AMA letter to Chairman Smith supporting H.R. 5, the "HEALTH Act of 2011," January 24, 2011
AMA Medical Liability Reform - NOW! Flyer
AMA Medical Liability Reform - NOW!
Compendium of research and advocacy information on medical liability reform
Letter to Speaker Pelosi regarding meaningful Medical Liability Reform in HSR, October 2, 2009
In December 2010, HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced new grant opportunities for medical liability and patient safety initiatives. Read more about AHRQ Medical Liability/Patient Safety Grants.
On September 17, 2009, President Obama directed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to launch a new medical liability grant project. The project provides financial incentives to states and health care systems to test models that meet four goals: 1) put patient safety first and work to reduce preventable injuries; 2) foster better communication between doctors and patients; 3) ensure that patients are compensated in a fair and timely manner for medical injuries, while also reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits; and 4) reduce liability premiums.
On June 11, 2010, HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), charged with implementing the grant program, announced the grant recipients. Read more about the recipients and liability reform models.
