The White House announced $25 million in grants for states and health systems that carry out and evaluate evidence-based patient-safety and medical-liability demonstrations, following up on President Barack Obama's nod to malpractice reform in his speech to Congress last week.
In a memorandum, Obama directed HHS to make the funding available for “the development, implementation and evaluation of alternatives to our current medical liability system.” Obama said in the memo that such alternatives should reduce preventable injuries; improve communication between physicians and patients; ensure fair and timely compensation for injured patients; reduce frivolous lawsuits; and reduce liability premiums.
Grants of up to $3 million and three years will go to applicants that implement and evaluate demonstrations, and one-year grants of up to $300,000 and technical assistance will go to applicants that want to plan projects, the White House said in a news release. Decisions are expected in early 2010.
The American Medical Association called the news “a welcome step” toward liability reform. “The AMA supports federal funding for state-based pilot projects on medical liability reform alternatives such as health courts, early disclosure and compensation programs and expert witness qualifications,” AMA President J. James Rohack said in a written statement.
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