Government
Illinois bill aims to improve liability insurance climate
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 1, 2004
The Illinois State Medical Society is backing state legislation introduced last month that it says will preserve access to health care services for patients and will reduce meritless lawsuits against physicians.
The Medical Liability Crisis and Access to Care Law of 2004 proposes requiring the filing of the names and addresses of physicians supplying required certificates of merit for medical malpractice lawsuits, allowing only one 90-day extension to file certificates of merit, and increasing the minimum qualifications of physicians signing certificates of merit.
The bill, introduced in both the Illinois House and Senate, also calls for enactment of good-faith immunity for physicians and other health professionals who provide emergency department or trauma care and expansion of the state grant program that awards money for professional liability premiums.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/01/gvbf0301.htm.
