FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 23, 2005
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock
312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620
Physicians Leaders Make the Case for Medical Litigation Reform; Outline Scope
of Crisis, Impact on Patient Access to Care.
Springfield, IL – Today at the Illinois State Capitol, Illinois State Medical Society President, Kenneth J. Printen, M.D., and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company Chairman, Harold L. Jensen, M.D., detailed to the Illinois House Judiciary Committee the well-documented case for medical litigation reform, painting a dismal future picture for Illinois patients and physicians if state lawmakers fail to enact an effective remedy to the broken medical litigation system here.
Both physicians presented compelling testimony on the crisis and its increasing reach. Dr. Printen recounted how the worsening medical legal environment is restricting and/or delaying patient access to medical services throughout Illinois. He called on House members to “reform our broken litigation system before it destroys the very heart of our health care system.”
Dr. Jensen outlined for state lawmakers the history, philosophy and legal climate challenges facing ISMIE Mutual, the state’s largest medical liability insurer of physicians. He enumerated the factors causing the crisis to escalate and debunked common myths and misconceptions put forth by opponents of reform. “We have a strong track record of solid management, physician advocacy, and fairness in our business operations,” Dr. Jensen noted. “What we sorely need now is a similar philosophy in the courts.”
ISMIE Mutual joins ISMS in supporting a cap on non-economic damage awards as the proven, long-term cure for stabilizing insurance rates. ISMS and ISMIE Mutual are unified in support of the comprehensive, meaningful medical litigation reforms contained in HB 705 and SB 150.
The full texts of Dr. Jensen and Dr. Printen’s testimony are available at www.isms.org and www.ismie.com. Hard copies are available on request.
The Illinois State Medical Society is a professional medical association representing over 14,000 physicians practicing in all specialties statewide.
ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company is the largest insurer of medical liability for Illinois physicians. Since the company’s inception in 1976, it has been policyholder-owned and operated.