Texas Tort Reform - Ten Years Later

From the Texas Medical Association:

... Ten years ago, TMA physicians and medical students banded together to push for passage of landmark medical liability reforms. The Medical Malpractice and Tort Reform Act of 2003, House Bill 4, went into effect Sept. 1 that year. Twelve days later, Texas voters approved Proposition 12, an amendment to the Texas Constitution that validated the legislature’s actions. HB 4 caps noneconomic damages in medical liability cases. Texas’ $750,000 total cap includes a $250,000 liability limit per physician for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. The tort reform act doesn’t restrict economic damages.

Since that law passed, record numbers of physicians have relocated here to care for Texas patients. Physicians already practicing here say they can recruit more specialists trained in Texas and from out of state, thanks to tort reform. In the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2012, the Texas Medical Board received 4,253 medical license applications and processed 3,630. Compare that to 2003, when the board received only 2,561 applications and processed 2,513.

“Tort reform has done wonders for the state by attracting more physicians to practice here, improving access to care, and making it economically possible for physicians to continue caring for patients,” Dr. Justin Hensley said.

Read the whole thing. 

Liability Reform IS Healthcare Reform.