WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) expressed support for the HEALTH Act, H.R. 5, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday with her support.  The legislation would create caps on medical malpractice lawsuits to reduce insurance costs for U.S. doctors.

 

“The point of this effort is to improve patient access and medical care by reducing the burden of excessive lawsuits.  I understand and respect the right of every American to recover damages for poor or negligent care, but excessive lawsuits are leading to out-of-control insurance costs that are driving doctors out of business and out of state in rural Missouri,” Emerson said.

 

“Affordable health care is key to access.  When doctors’ high insurance costs are passed along to patients, the whole system begins to shut out people who need care.  They end up in emergency rooms instead of making routine visits to their physician, and they stop getting the preventative care and early detection that prevent a disease from becoming serious,” Emerson said.  “This legislation contains reforms we really need to get our health care system back on track with lower costs for essential services, particularly in the area of obstetrics.”