Health care overhaul bill has its ups and downs
Idaho Stateman, Boise, ID (Associated Press) - Jul 17, 2009
...Republicans also failed on amendments to limit medical malpractice awards, and to prevent the government insurance plan from covering abortions. All the votes were largely along party lines...

Editorial: Move health reforms
The Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY - Jul 17, 2009
...To be sure, Democrats need to expand their approach. In particular, they need to show some enthusiasm for restraining the peculiarly American lawsuit culture that is driving medical malpractice rates through the roof and doctors out of business...

Massachusetts weighs 'global' health care payment system
CNSNews.com (Associated Press) - Jul 17, 2009
...Nicholas said the state also shouldn't lose focus on more immediate cost-saving measures, like medical malpractice reform and better practices around end-of-life care...

Pa. House rejects GOP budget that had no new taxes
Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA (Associated Press) - Jul 17, 2009
...The Democratic plan draws heavily from the state's rainy day contingency fund and from a surplus in an account used to pay doctors' malpractice premiums. But it leaves unresolved how to fund $1.3 billion for the State System of Higher Education, community colleges, student loans...

Opinion - Edward J. Volpintesta: Only reforms can end defensive medicine
The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT - Jul 17, 2009
...Clearly, a more balanced method of handling malpractice cases is needed: one that treats patients fairly and does not destroy doctors' careers or reputations. Without significant reforms in the rules for malpractice suits and awards, doctors will continue to practice defensively. And defensive medicine will remain the wild card that drives the cost of health care higher every year...

Editorial: Arizona's new malpractice law, middle approach
The Sun, Yuma, AZ - Jul 16, 2009
...While this will undoubtedly make trial lawyers and their clients unhappy, it is not an unreasonable change. Doctors who have truly done harm can still be punished and their victims compensated. But less substantial or frivolous malpractice suits will be discouraged.

Editorial: Malpractice needs a genuine fix
Newsday, NY - Jul 16, 2009
Freezing doctors' malpractice insurance premiums for the second year in a row, as Albany did this week, is a decent stopgap measure to keep doctors from fleeing the state. But legislators need to turn up the heat on the search for real medical malpractice reform...