Report: New Mexico Earns “Tort Reform Trailblazer” Title as Lawmakers Tackle Doctor Shortage Crisis
New Mexico earned a “Tort Reform Trailblazer” designation in the American ...
In states without reasonable limits on liability, skyrocketing medical liability awards have driven up insurance costs or forced insurers out, causing many physicians to reduce services, leave high-risk specialties, or relocate their practices.
In state civil justice systems that lack reasonable limits on liability, multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements in medical liability cases have forced many insurance companies to either leave the market or substantially raise costs. Increasingly, physicians in these states are choosing to stop practicing medicine, abandon high-risk parts of their practices, or move their practices to other states.
To help bring a degree of predictability and fairness to the civil justice system that is critical to solving the growing medical access and affordability crisis, ATRA recommends a medical liability reform packages that includes: (1) a $250,000 limit on noneconomic damages; (2) a sliding scale for attorney’s contingent fees; (3) periodic payment of future damages; and (4) abolition of the collateral source.
Limits noneconomic damages to $350,000 per healthcare provider, with an overall aggregate limit of $1.05 million.
Limits noneconomic damages in medical liability cases to $500,000 per physician and $1 million per hospital.
Limits noneconomic damages in medical liability cases to a nonadjustable limit of $350,000 regardless of the number of defendants in the case.
Limits noneconomic damages in medical liability cases to $350,000 per provider, with an overall aggregate limit of $1.05 million.
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