Sixty-nine Percent Want Liability Reform Included in Health Care Reform
Legislation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans overwhelmingly
support meaningful medical liability reform and agree that changes to our
nation's broken medical liability system should be included in health care
reform legislation passed by the Congress, according to a new poll released
today by the Health Coalition on Liability and Access.
"The HCLA poll clearly shows that the American people want medical liability
reform," said HCLA Chair Mike Stinson. "People across the country understand
that the current system threatens their access to quality medical care and
drives up health care costs for everyone."
"If Congress truly wants to reform our health care system, Senators and
Representatives must answer to their constituents and include comprehensive
medical liability reform to make the system more accessible and affordable for
all patients," Stinson said.
A National Quorum poll of 1,009 adults was conducted in October 2009.
According to the poll, 62% of those surveyed responded that they want their
elected representatives in Washington to support national comprehensive
medical liability reform legislation, and 69% believe that these liability
reforms should be included in any health care reform legislation passed by
Congress.
Further, 72% of survey respondents were concerned that a lack of doctors might
impact the availability and quality of the care they receive. Seventy percent
support a law that guarantees full payment for lost wages and medical
expenses, but places reasonable limits on non-economic damage awards. And 68%
favor a law that limits fees for personal injury lawyers.
The HCLA is committed to enacting immediate, effective federal medical
liability reform, formalizing and codifying voluntary state demonstration
projects on alternative reforms, in addition to ensuring that health care
reform does not expand liability and encourage medical lawsuit abuse.
For complete poll results, visit www.hcla.org.
For more details, visit www.hcla.org. The Health Coalition on Liability and
Access is a national advocacy coalition representing doctors, hospitals,
health care liability insurers, employers, health care consumers, and others.
HCLA believes federal legislation is needed to bring fairness, timeliness and
cost-efficiency to America's medical liability system.
SOURCE Health Coalition on Liability and Access
Lauren Slepian of the Health Coalition on Liability and Access,
+1-609-744-4794
