Jensen says: Reform Now for Future Access to Health Care

Illinois residents are in crisis. The current legal environment has driven medical liability premiums sky high, forcing obstetricians, neurosurgeons, family practitioners and others to eliminate high-risk procedures, relocate or change careers. Physician flight and the resulting shrinking access to health care services is the reality for numerous communities across our state – and across the country.

To address these pressing issues, ISMIE Mutual Chairman Harold L. Jensen, M.D., presented testimony on the medical liability crisis at the Illinois Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee Hearing. Held February 14 in Highland Park at the invitation of State
Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), the forum drew an audience of more than 200 comprised of legislators, physicians, lawyers and concerned citizens.

Call for caps

Dr. Jensen clarified issues surrounding the medical liability insurance industry and called for caps on non-economic (pain and suffering) jury verdict awards. “ISMIE Mutual firmly believes that the legal system should fairly compensate those patients injured by medical negligence,” he stated. “But exorbitant, non-economic awards must be controlled before more doctors leave Illinois and further affect patients’ access to health care.”

Noting that caps on non-economic awards “stabilize insurance rates and have done so throughout the country,” Dr. Jensen pledged ISMIE Mutual’s assistance in working with legislators toward liability cost containment.

And that would be a great leap toward assuring access to health care services. Illinois physicians and patients deserve no less.

Dr. Jensen’s complete testimony may be accessed at www.ismie.com.