New Federal Bill Introduced To Curb Medical Malpractice Risk, Save Money March 7, 2014 News, Politics and Medicine Ami Bera, malpractice, Saving Costs Act, HR 4016, Saving Lives 0 National legislation introduced last week is aimed at reducing the risk of medical malpractice lawsuits, improving patient care, preventing insurance fraud and saving money—all through use of evidence-based medical practices. The bill, HR 4106, is a bipartisan offering from a Democratic doctor from California and a Republican lawyer from Kentucky. California Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove), a physician, co-sponsored the Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act with Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ken), a lawyer. The bill was introduced in the House last week. The law would provide added protection from lawsuits—called "a safe harbor," for physicians who adhere to specific evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. It applies to providers a physician is supervising, as well. According to Bera, about 75% of all physicians face a malpractice claim sometime during their career. "The fear of lawsuits can lead to care choices that protect the physician legally, like ordering unnecessary tests and procedures," Bera said, "but may not be what evidence says is the best option for the patient." Resource: California Healthline, March 7, 2014 Comments are closed.
