US House of Representatives Seeking to Reduce Medical Liability Costs
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2017
MSSNY Applauds US House of Representatives for Seeking to Reduce Medical Liability Costs
Statement from Charles Rothberg, MD, President, Medical Society of the State of New York:
“We have long maintained that medical liability reform is an essential component of health reform. We commend the House of Representatives for passing legislation (HR 1215) that if enacted could help to reduce some of the extraordinary costs faced by our physicians and hospitals and restore some balance to our medical liability system.
New York State was recently designated as the worst state in the country to practice medicine, in large part due to our excessive liability exposure as compared to all other states. Indeed, physicians in New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley pay some of the highest liability premiums in the country. New York not only far exceeds all other states in terms of total medical liability payouts, we also spend more on a per capita than any other state in the country.
The actions of the US House of Representatives to address this huge problem stands in stark contrast to the New York State Legislature, which despite New York’s exorbitant costs, just passed legislation that would actually expand lawsuits against doctors and hospitals and impose huge new costs. MSSNY and many other health care provider associations are urging Governor Cuomo to veto this legislation.
As efforts continue to be undertaken to fix the flaws of the Affordable Care Act, we urge that comprehensive medical liability reform today be included in these efforts.”
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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.
Press Contact:
Julie Vecchione
Manager, Communications Division
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x 340
jvecchione@mssny.org