GOVERNMENT & MEDICINE

Election 2004: Presidential candidates give plans for health care

AMNews asked: If elected (or re-elected), what would you do to help doctors with some of the obstacles they face in the practice of medicine?

BUSH: "Medical liability reform."
KERRY: "Access to care."

By Geri Aston, AMNews staff. Oct. 18, 2004.

Responses from President George W. Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry (D, Mass.) are printed verbatim.

"Our nation's physicians are highly skilled professionals whose compassion and dedication to saving lives help make our health care system the best in the world. However, too many are leaving the practice of medicine because of malpractice insurance costs.

"The health care system needs medical liability reform now. Frivolous and junk lawsuits are raising the cost of medicine and jeopardizing patient care. The results are skyrocketing liability insurance rates that burden physicians across the nation, forcing them to practice defensive medicine, limit care and, in many cases, stop practicing entirely.

"This crisis is raising costs for everyone, and it must be stopped. My plan for common-sense reform will reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits, lower health care costs for all Americans and help maintain the strong doctor-patient relationship that ensures high-quality care. My proposal ensures that injured persons are fully compensated for current and future economic losses, while reasonably limiting noneconomic damages to $250,000 and punitive damages to $250,000.

"We have also made a commitment to improve health information technology, because I believe it will reduce medical errors, save money and improve the quality of care. My fiscal year 2005 budget doubles funding to $100 million for demonstration projects to test the effectiveness of health IT and allow for widespread adoption in the health care industry. I established a goal that most Americans will have electronic health records within the next 10 years, which will improve the quality of care and reduce medical errors by allowing health care providers to share medical records securely when authorized by the patient."

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