House Votes On FSA Funds And Medical Malpractice

Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington, has praised the House for acting on medical liability reform and expansion of HSAs.

In particular, she says, a recent survey sponsored by AHIP found that medical liability is becoming a significant issue for voters.

Ignagni says the survey results suggest that voters will consider the issue of medical liability when they head to the polls this November.

Indeed, she says, 72% of those who said they will vote in November reported that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports capping noneconomic damages in medical lawsuits.

"This issue is really starting to resonate at the grassroots because voters are increasingly making the connection between frivolous lawsuits and rising costs," Ignagni says.

In addition to the caps on punitive and noneconomic damages, H.R. 4280 places limits on contingency fees earned by plaintiffs' lawyers, bans punitive damages in cases involving manufacturers and distributors of medical devices that comply with standards issued by the Food and Drug Administration, and establishes a statute of limitations for the filing of medical liability claims.