Obama boosts health reform in media blitz
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Sep 21, 2009
...However, many physician leaders have complained that the administration's $25 million grant program falls far short of the aggressive changes they seek, including a cap on legal awards to injured patients...

Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths
American Medical News, Chicago, IL - Sep 21, 2009
...Medical liability reform is another area in which the Finance bill does not go as far as the House -- or the AMA -- would like to go. "We haven't seen in the Senate Finance so far an understanding that defensive medicine costs need to be reduced because they don't contribute to patient care," Dr. Nielsen said...

Opinion - Ralph R. Reiland: Surgeons cut deep into Obamacare
The Mercury, Pottstown, PA - Sep 21, 2009
...With some $2.38 trillion spent last year in the U.S. on health care, that's $238 billion that the health sector is paying for lawsuits or ringing up in defensive procedures to protect itself from litigation. All that is off the table in Obama's calculations on how to save money...

In Brief: Antitrust bill would cut health insurer exemption
Business Insurance, New York, NY - Sep 21, 2009
...The Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, which also would apply to medical malpractice insurers, would subject insurers “to the same fair competition laws that apply to nearly every other company doing business in the United States,” according to a statement by the senator's office...

DeGette targets insurance companies
The Denver Daily News, CO - Sep 21, 2009
Congresswoman Diana DeGette has introduced legislation that would repeal an antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurance companies. Arguing that eliminating the exemption is necessary to combat skyrocketing premiums...

Malpractice liability cap popular issue in efforts to reform health care
Lansing State Journal, Lansing, MI - Sep 21, 2009
...But lower malpractice insurance rates would have a "very modest" impact on doctors' fees and would reduce total health care spending by less than 0.2 percent, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office...

Midstate lawmakers criticize spending, tax increases in state budget deal
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA - Sep 20, 2009
...The plan also counts on $2.1 billion from one-time revenue sources, including the $755 million in the state’s Rainy Day Fund and a surplus in an account established to help doctors with medical malpractice premiums...

Toughest test coming up for health care overhaul
Chambersburg Public Opinion, PA (Associated Press) - Sep 20, 2009
...Baucus says his bill already does both. Republicans are also going to push for a bolder approach on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits...

Editorial: Unfettered access to the courts
The Seattle Times, WA - Sep 20, 2009
THE state Supreme Court was right to throw out a three-year-old law requiring patients to get certificates of merit from an expert before they could sue for medical malpractice...