HHS Secretary Holds Town Meeting in Jacksonville, Fla., To Discuss Medical Malpractice Issue

Reforming laws to make filing medical malpractice lawsuits more difficult was "overwhelmingly" the theme of a town hall meeting held Dec. 17 by HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson in Jacksonville, Fla., the Florida Times-Union reports. Thompson, speaking at the second such meeting to be held around the nation, said the medical malpractice "crisis" is one of the nation's "most significant hurdles" to improving the U.S. health care system, adding that a "national answer, not [a] state answer" is needed, according to the Times-Union. "I think this year is the year. I think the stars are aligned correctly," Thompson said, adding that the incoming Republican majority in Congress will likely show "more support" for tort reform than Democrats did. Thompson said that states might examine alternative solutions to curb the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance such as establishing a special court only to hear malpractice cases or a state-run, out-of-court settlement program (Skidmore, Florida Times-Union, 12/18). President Bush and congressional leaders have said that limits on damages awarded in medical malpractice cases will be high priority in the next Congress (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/16).

NPR's "Morning Edition" on Dec. 18 reported on the debate in Texas over legislation to limit medical malpractice awards (Goodwyn, "Morning Edition," NPR, 12/18). The full segment will be available in RealPlayer after noon ET online.