Health plan association targets malpractice reform
The Pennsylvania effort to reform the medical malpractice system may be followed by more action across the country. As part of an effort to prevent what it calls "lawsuit abuse," the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) is pushing a fight for medical malpractice reform and against unnecessary litigation.
Runaway litigation is "the greatest threat to high-quality, affordable health care," according to AAHP president and CEO Karen Ignagni. "Personal injury lawyers think they can sue their way to better health care, but the never-ending parade of frivolous lawsuits has serious consequences for consumers."
AAHP, in partnership with the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA), is seeking to fill the malpractice reform leadership vacuum that has developed since personal injury lawyers partnered with a handful of physician groups to pursue more litigation against health plans. As co-chairs of the American Tort Reform Association’s (ATRA) Medical Liability Committee, AAHP and PIAA will work at the state and federal level to educate opinion leaders on the consequences of frivolous lawsuits on health care access and quality.
"The predatory practices of personal injury lawyers are unraveling the health care system," Ignagni says. "Their sue first, ask questions later’ approach is driving up health care costs, leading employers to reconsider whether or not to provide health care benefits, and leaving doctors without malpractice insurance. The time for reform is now."
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