Federal Legislative Activities
The AMA strongly supports comprehensive medical liability reform (MLR), including reasonable limits on non-economic damages similar to successful reforms in California and Texas.
The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (ACA) included multiple provisions concerning the establishment and implementation of national care and practice standards and guidelines for health care providers, with potential for new causes of legal action against physicians. The AMA believes physicians should not have to worry about potential new causes of action or liability exposure in their attempts to develop new ways to improve the quality and efficiencies of care.
On April 10, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), who has long been a proponent for MLR, introduced H.R. 1473, the "Standard of Care Protection Act of 2013." This bill would clarify that the care standards and guidelines specified in the ACA cannot be used to create new causes of legal action against physicians providing care to patients. In addition, it would preserve state medical liability laws. AMA supports H.R. 1473.
AMA Medical Liability Reform - NOW! Flyer
AMA Medical Liability Reform - NOW!
Compendium of research and advocacy information on medical liability reform
Sign-on letter supporting the Stearns/Matheson "Good Samaritan" amendment to H.R. 5, March 21, 2012
American Tort Reform Association paper on the constitutionality of H.R. 5
We all pay the price for our broken medical liability system
AMA letter in support of S. 1099, Senate companion bill to H.R. 5, June 14, 2011
AMA letter to House Energy and Commerce re: H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, May 10, 2011
Sign-on letter of support for H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, January 25, 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
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.
