This bill is a con game to make us believe that malpractice insurance is a major expense of our healthcare system, when in fact, it is only 0.5-1% of all medical costs. Losers of this game will be patient protections against malpractice and medical error. It limits non-economic damages to $250,000, shortens the statute of limitations and bans class action lawsuits against doctors prescribing FDA-approved drugs or medical devices that cause harm. Winners will be pharmaceutical firms who’ll minimize damages for under-tested drugs and their well-paid army of lobbyists.
Script: I’m calling to ask Rep. (___) to vote “NO” on HR 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017. Reducing healthcare spending is an admirable policy goal, but it should not be achieved by eroding people’s legal protections against medical malpractice while shielding pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits over hastily-approved drugs.
Rep. Brownley (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
Rep. Carbajal (CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
More Info:https://centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-hr-1215-“protecting-access-unsafe-care-act-2017”
https://www.citizen.org/sites/default/files/medical-malpractice-scapegoat-report.pdf
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