A new report by the Department of Health and Human Services finds problems associated with medical litigation have significantly worsened in the past year, sparked by a rise in million dollar jury awards and settlements, particularly for non-economic damages. "More doctors, hospitals and nursing homes in more states are facing increasing difficulty in obtaining insurance against lawsuits, and as a result more patients in more states are facing greater difficulty in obtaining access to doctors," the report concludes. If reform were adopted nationally placing limits on non-economic damages, it would save $70-126 billion in health care costs this year, the report adds. The report, "Addressing the New Health Care Crisis," is available at
http://www.hhs.gov/ or http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030303.html .