[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            PRESCRIPTION OF THE DAY: MEDICAL JUSTICE REFORM

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, one of the problems today in health care 
is that too many doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine and 
face the constant threat of lawsuits and unsustainable medical 
liability insurance rates. This results in millions of dollars of 
unnecessary tests and procedures. Furthermore, seasoned medical 
professionals are retiring early because staying in practice is no 
longer financially feasible, further contributing to our Nation's 
physician workforce shortage. It's a growing crisis that is pushing 
affordable care beyond the reach and grasp of millions of Americans.
  National across-the-board change in the medical justice system would 
lower the costs and improve care by lessening the threat of unnecessary 
lawsuits. The Medical Justice Act, H.R. 1468, does just that, modeled 
after the successful Texas reforms passed in 2003. The results are 
documented reductions in liability insurance rates, reported growth in 
the number of doctors licensed each year in the State of Texas, 
increased charity care, amongst others.
  To learn more about this very important act and how it is affecting 
health care in Texas, please visit healthcaucus.org or my Web site, 
burgess.house.gov.

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