News Releases and Statements 
VERDICT COULD DERAIL ILLINOISANS’ HEALTH CARE ACCESS - Cook County trial court declares medical litigation reforms unconstitutional
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Chicago – Today, Illinois doctors and patients received some very bad news: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larsen ruled the medical litigation reforms enacted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2005 as unconstitutional.
ISMS to ABC: Internationally-trained doctors important to patient care
Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500
On behalf of all doctors who have received their medical training overseas, I want to thank you for issuing an apology for the derogatory statement made on "Desperate Housewives" against Philippines medical schools.
ISMS to Congress: Fix Medicare
Fri, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The Illinois State Medical Society urges that you make it a priority this year to enact legislation that would repeal the Medicare physician payment system, replace it with a system that adequately keeps pace with increases in medical practice costs, and establish a 1.7% Medicare physician payment update in 2008, as recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
Letter to Governor Blagojevich Re: HB 1798
Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The 13,000 members of the Illinois State Medical Society respectfully request your veto on HB 1798, which would increase awards in wrongful death lawsuits.
Statement by Rodney C. Osborn, M.D., President, Illinois State Medical Society Re: HB 1798 Passing the Illinois Senate
Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The Illinois State Medical Society strongly urges the governor to veto HB 1798. This legislation is clearly a disguised “grab for cash” by the plaintiff lawyers.
Illinois State Medical Society Affirms Support for Universal Access to Insurance Coverage; Voices Concern Regarding Illinois Covered Plan as Currently Written
Thu, 3 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
While affirming wholehearted support for universal patient access to medical insurance coverage, the Illinois State Medical Society today revealed it cannot support the Administration’s Illinois Covered initiative without significant change to key provisions. The ISMS announcement, which came after its annual House of Delegates policy session held in late April, is based on the organization’s newly-adopted ISMS Principles for Health System Reform.
Statement by Rodney C. Osborn, M.D., President, Illinois State Medical Society Re: "Smoke Free Illinois" Legislation, SB 500
Tue, 1 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) applauds the Illinois General Assembly for its passage of the “Smoke Free Illinois” bill, also known as SB 500. This legislation, aimed at protecting the health of Illinoisans, is one of the most important public health initiatives this year.
They’re ‘At It’ Again: Plaintiff Attorneys’ Attempts to Roll Back Medical Litigation Reforms Will Jeopardize Health Care Access for Patients
Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Illinois personal injury lawyers are silently maneuvering to reverse the impact of medical litigation reforms enacted in August, 2005. Their latest stealth campaign: passage of House Bill 1798, which will seriously worsen Illinois' medical litigation crisis by adding damages for grief, sorrow, and mental suffering in wrongful death lawsuits.
AIR's Recent Medical Malpractice Study
Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Once again, it appears plaintiffs’ attorneys are using the same tired arguments to further their own interests – arguments which have been disproved time and time again.
2005 Medical Liability Reforms Integral to Keeping Doctors in Illinois, According to Newly Released Reality Medicine Update
Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Further illustrating how critical the 2005 medical liability reforms are to keeping doctors in Illinois and to assuring continued patient access to medical care, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company today released Reality Medicine: Keeping Doctors in Illinois, which gives an updated overview of Illinois’ medical litigation climate.
Doctors Recognize DVT Awareness Month
Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) today announced its support of March as “Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month” — joining a national effort to raise awareness of this serious condition that affects up to two million Americans annually. While preventable, almost 300,000 die each year from DVT and its primary complication, pulmonary embolism — more than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
Citing Patient Safety Concerns, Doctors Seek Oversight of Retail Health Clinics
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Amid growing concern about the lack of oversight guaranteeing patient safety in retail health clinics, State Representative Mike McAuliffe (R-Chicago) introduced ISMS-backed HB 1885, the “Retail Health Care Facility Permit Act,” which will charge the Illinois Department of Public Health with regulating health care services provided in a retail store or pharmacy.
Illinois State Medical Society's Doctors Seek Medicaid Improvements Designed to Assure Available, Accessible Patient Care
Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
ISMS-backed legislation just introduced in the Illinois General Assembly will better ensure Medicaid patients’ access to medical care resources in Illinois. If enacted, SB 530 and its companion bill, HB 1328, would streamline reimbursement payments, within 30 days, to medical providers, as well as update Medicaid’s woefully low fee schedules to at least equal Medicare rates. Many Medicaid reimbursements, especially those for specialty-specific physician care, have lagged behind inflation and even farther behind physician practice cost increases for a decade or more.
Former U.S. Solicitor General Joins Medical Liability Fight
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT
ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company and the Illinois State Medical Society today announced the addition of former U.S. Solicitor General and renowned constitutional scholar, Theodore B. Olson, to the legal team defending the constitutionality of medical litigation reforms enacted here in August 2005.