Public Hearing on Medical Malpractice Reform

On December 1st, 2009, the New York State Senate Committees on Insurance, Health and Codes will be holding a public hearing on medical malpractice reform. The purpose of this hearing is to (1) identify the fundamental causes of high medical malpractice costs; (2) explore potential solutions to help create a medical malpractice system that encourages accessible, quality medical care; (3) promote patient safety; (4) treat victims of malpractice fairly; (5) sets reasonable insurance costs for health providers; and (6) promotes a healthy marketplace for medical liability insurers. The Committees are going to be hearing from representatives from government, provider organizations, insurers, advocates, attorney’s and businesses.

New York is home to one of the nation’s best health care systems. Despite past successes in making health care more affordable and available to New Yorkers, long-term reform of the medical malpractice structure has not yet been achieved. Considering that health care costs are impacted by medical malpractice rates, it is imperative that we have a medical liability structure in place which ensures that medical malpractice rates remain stable and appropriate, while ensuring that malpractice victims are adequately compensated, and doctors adequately protected.

The hearing will start at 10 a.m. on December 1st, in hearing room B of the Legislative Office Building, in Albany, New York. Please contact Evan Schneider in my office at (518)-455-2225 if you would like additional information.

Click here to view the hearing notice