Tort reform brings good news for Ohio's doctors and patients

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The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) recently issued a report that contains good news for Ohio’s physicians and their patients. The report details a drop of 20 percent in the number of medical malpractice claims filed in 2006 compared to the year before. We believe this decrease is a direct result of the major tort reform laws enacted in 2003.

In addition, medical liability insurance rates have stabilized or declined, and there are more companies writing medical malpractice insurance policies. While additional companies mean more options for physicians, the real winners are patients, who as a result have access to more medical specialties and high-risk, but high-reward procedures.

The Ohio State Medical Association led the efforts of the health-care community to confront the crisis of runaway medical malpractice rates in 2003. The legislature’s commitment to confronting the problem gave Ohio the liability reform that our system so desperately needed and helped to change the medical practice environment.

Dr. Craig W. Anderson

President

Ohio State Medical Association
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