AMA President-elect John C. Nelson, MD, MPH, this week called on Congress to act immediately before patient access to care is further threatened. Dr. Nelson explained to the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Wellness and Human Rights how escalating jury awards and the rising cost of lawsuit defense are causing medical liability insurance premiums to soar.
"Over the past two years," said Dr. Nelson, "many physicians have been hit with medical liability premium increases of 25 to 400 percent. As medical liability insurance becomes unaffordable or unavailable, physicians are being forced to close their practices or drop vital services - seriously affecting patient access to care." Visit http://unity.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.442.320.2.72552 for more.