Physicians Rally for Tort Reform

It was a cold, rainy day March 4, but pouring rain couldn’t keep Iowa physicians from holding a rally at the Iowa Capitol. With over 400 doctors present, including 100 from Polk County Medical Society, organized medicine joined forces to carry one unified message to the state legislators, the importance of tort reform for Iowa to assure future access for patients to medical care.

The speakers from the various medical organizations carried the important message of doctors and their patients. Steve Eckstat, DO, spoke on behalf of Polk County Medical Society and the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, Tom Evans, MD, PCMS member and President of Iowa Medical Society facilitated the activities. AMA President-elect John C. Nelson, MD, President Elect of the American Osteopathic Medical Association, Governor Terry Branstad, Des Moines University President; and Jim Palazzo, the Medical Group Managers Association representative; all had a strong message that if Iowa does not pass medical liability reform, doctors will retire early, leave the state or stop doing high risk procedures leaving Iowans with an access to care problem.

There are currently 19 U.S. states in the midst of a medical liability crisis, and more than 20 showing problem signs. Non-economic damages have been a primary driver of the increasing costs for professional liability insurance. The number of lawsuits against Iowa physicians falls within the national average. Market forces are driving the liability insurance industry premiums to prohibitive rates in Iowa. This year the PCMS received twice as many calls from doctors who had their rates doubled, tripled, or were not offered to renew their malpractice insurance. We have doctors who have been forced into early retirement, left the state to practice, or quit high risk procedures. The citizens of Iowa do not realize how many doctors or specialties this crisis is affecting, and the numbers are growing.

After months of hard work and intense lobbying efforts by the PCMS, IMS and other organized medical groups, legislation has been introduced and passed in the House to assist in the malpractice crisis. Iowa House File 2440, a bill that would limit non-economic damages to $250,000 in lawsuits against physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes would have a positive impact on medical liability passed out of the House and is currently in the Senate, SF2236.

The PCMS will be relentless in our message through our lobbyist, Executive Committee, staff, and members, that tort reform must take place in Iowa to assure access to care for citizens. We will continue to call on PCMS members for grassroots contacts to your legislators when needed. Thanks to all of the Polk County Medical Society doctors who participated in this rally. Your support was very important and continues to be essential in the grassroots fight to get relief for physicians who are trying daily to care for their patients.