AOA Demands Health Act Passage On Behalf Of Patients; Through Organized Hill Day, Ad Campaign, Online Action Center

9/25/2002

From: Heidi Ecker of the American Osteopathic Association, 202-251-3951

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Today, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and its 49,000 osteopathic physicians providing over 100 million patient visits each year, call on Congress to reform the professional liability insurance (PLI) system by approving the bipartisan Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002.

"Our patients need access to health care. Our patients need doctors to be there. Our patients need medical liability reform," says AOA President-elect Darryl Beehler, D.O. "Congress must approve the HEALTH Act today, because our patients cannot wait until tomorrow."

AOA says the HEALTH Act (H.R. 4600/S. 2793), crafted by Representatives Jim Greenwood (R-PA) in the House and by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) in the Senate, addresses the rising medical insurance premiums associated with health care access problems. "These reforms are beyond necessary. Patients are losing access. Patients are losing health care. Patients are plain losing and the approval of the HEALTH Act will provide necessary reforms," says Dr. Beehler.

Patients lose access to their doctors when high premiums encourage physicians to leave counties and states for areas with more affordable liability insurance. Patients lose quality health care when a lack of physicians forces community hospitals to limit the types of services provided, as happened in Nevada with its trauma center closings. Patients lose affordable health care when litigation costs are passed on to patients through increased insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.

"Members of Congress support this Act because they know health care access is not a partisan issue," says Dr. Beehler. "Democrats and Republicans see physicians forced out of communities and the resulting impact on patient access to affordable health care. I applaud reform advocates for having the foresight to know the HEALTH Act will protect patients from paying the price."

Few states have adequate laws so Congress must enact reforms today. Only seven states have enacted broad reform: CA, IL, IN, MI, NV, UT, and WI. While a number of states have passed laws to: limit non-economic, economic damages (23); limit attorney fees (14); enforce mandatory or discretionary roles on collateral sources (29); and address periodic repayment damages (29), the AOA does not believe these laws go far enough.

The AOA supports six principles that, when implemented as a group, demonstrate the ability to address the aforementioned problems: (1) periodic repayment of future expenses or losses; (2) limitations on non-economic damages; (3) offsets for collateral sources; (4) joint and several liability reform; (5) limitations on attorney contingency fees; and (6) establish uniform statutes of limitations. These six principles are included in the 1975 California "Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act" (MICRA).

"This is not an issue that will go away," says Dr. Beehler. "Members of Congress might go home to their states and districts, but I am certain the medical liability reform issue will follow them if legislation is not approved today. While our members are prepared to celebrate a success, they are also prepared to continue to push for meaningful reforms."

The AOA is dedicated to helping patients win back affordable quality health care through PLI reform. That's why it intensifies PLI reform activities, just days after the House Energy & Commerce and House Judiciary Committees approve the HEALTH Act:

-- AD CAMPAIGN. AOA's third ad of a three-month campaign encourages PLI reform in the September 26th Roll Call (8/26 Waco Tribune Herald, 9/9 Roll Call, 9/26 Roll Call).

-- HILL DAY. On September 26, AOA hosts a semi-annual "D.O. Day on Capitol Hill" bringing nearly 150 osteopathic physicians to Washington to advocate on behalf of comprehensive liability reforms.

-- ONLINE ACTION CENTER. AOA updates its PLI Action Center, located at www.aoa-net.org/Government/relations/PLI/pli.htm, to review PLI reform bill progress, AOA positions and activities, and state reform details for our members, patients, and the public.

------ AOA represents 49,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s), promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools and health care facilities.