Stage set for healthcare political drama
Washington Post, DC - Feb 24, 2010
...Republicans demand Democrats abandon their broad proposals for a simpler, less costly, step-by step approach that would limit medical malpractice lawsuits, allow small businesses to form health insurance groups and permit insurers to sell policies across state lines...

G.O.P. expects little from Obama's health forum
New York Times, NY - Feb 24, 2010
...The proposal that House Republicans will carry into the meeting with Mr. Obama would encourage small businesses to band together to buy insurance; would give federal money to states to run high-risk pools for people who cannot obtain private insurance; and would limit damages in medical malpractice lawsuits...

Health bill faces big hurdles in House
Wall Street Journal, New York, NY - Feb 24, 2010
...Instead of passing a sweeping bill, Republicans say Congress should pass incremental legislation to curb medical malpractice lawsuits, allow insurers to sell policies across state lines and create high-risk pools for sick consumers to obtain coverage...

Medical malpractice back on the table?
The Omaha World-Herald, NE (Associated Press) - Feb 24, 2010
...Studies have found that capping malpractice damage awards and making other changes would help reduce overall health care spending nationally. But it’s no magic bullet: Estimates on the size of that reduction vary from a minimal one to, in a perfect world, maybe 10 percent of overall health spending...

Editorial: Things to do quickly
The Providence Journal, RI - Feb 24, 2010
...For example, Democrats could adopt some of the GOP’s better ideas, such as reforming America’s medical-malpractice laws. Doctors prescribe much unnecessary testing as protection against malpractice suits...

Editorial: The first four steps
The Boston Globe, MA - Feb 24, 2010
...Fourth, Congress must reform the medical malpractice system. The only winners in the current system are the plaintiffs’ lawyers...

Opinion - Larry McNeely and Mike Russo: Healthcare reform, not political theater
Los Angeles Times, CA - Feb 24, 2010
...Gregg would pay for his plan by having Medicare beneficiaries pay for more of their care, and by taxing healthcare benefits above $11,500 a year for families and $5,000 for individuals. He sees medical malpractice reform as central to containing healthcare costs...

For healthcare summit planners, it's the furniture, stupid!
Baltimore Sun, MD - Feb 23, 2010
...One issue they expect to come up is medical malpractice. Republicans want to see cutbacks in litigation and damages, while Democrats are reluctant to offend trial lawyers who are a major source of campaign money and political support...

Newspapers grade latest Obama health plan
Dallas Morning News, TX - Feb 23, 2010
...Or he could have borrowed their ideas on how to curb unwarranted lawsuits and excessive medical malpractice awards...

Illinois urges continued competition, lower rates in medical liability line
Insurance Journal, San Diego, CA - Feb 23, 2010
The Illinois Department of Insurance reported it has observed increased competition and 10 percent decrease in premium paid in the medical malpractice line of insurance since reforms were enacted in 2005...