Letter to Senator Dole
Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 9:41 am
I sent a letter to Sen. Dole several weeks ago. I expressed to her that while I supported malpractice reform, the current solution will only benefit doctors.
Here is her response:
Dear Mr. Ward:
Thank you so much for taking time to write to me about medical malpractice reform. Receiving your ideas and concerns is so important in order for me to represent you, and our state, to the best of my ability in the United States Senate.
I want to ensure that every family in North Carolina has access to affordable, quality health care. In order to alleviate increasing cost of healthcare, it is clear that we need to reform the present system. I
strongly support capping non-economic damages and punitive damages at $250,000 and reducing the excessive awards that have put a serious drain on the system.
Reforming medical malpractice litigation would allow the victims of real malpractice to recover full economic damages, such as past and future medical expenses, loss of past and future earnings, and cost of domestic services, while also lowering health care costs, increasing access to health care services, and ensuring affordable liability insurance for doctors.
In North Carolina, the number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed has increased 18 percent in the past five years. Hospitals in the Charlotte area are currently facing liability insurance premium increases of up to 400 percent. Several physician insurance companies have exited the North Carolina and have left physicians and hospitals with fewer options for coverage. Premium increases have resulted in the dramatic escalation of health care costs, which subsequently have forced many employers to either
increase co-payments or drop coverage altogether. The result has been that many North Carolinians have been left without access to the health care they so desperately need.
Nationally, medical liability costs add between $60 billion and $110 billion to health care costs each year. Many of our highly qualified and dedicated medical professionals have left North Carolina, choosing instead to relocate their practices to other states that offer some medical malpractice relief. Doctors in many states cannot afford the liability coverage they need in order to see patients or even volunteer free clinical services. In addition, doctors are being forced to choose their practice area based on the affordability of insurance premiums, leaving many fields such as OB-GYN, emergency and trauma care, and neurosurgery with critical doctor shortages.
I assure you that I will continue to work to create a health care system that best serves our State and our Nation. Medical malpractice reform will benefit health care recipients and providers alike by both reducing cost and increasing accessibility. This will help provide North Carolinians with access to health care services they so vitally need and deserve.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your ideas and concerns. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With my warmest best wishes,
Elizabeth Dole
Needless to say I was not very impressed. Here was my response back:
Dear Sen. Dole:
I appreciate that you took the time to respond to my concerns over medicalmalpractice reform. Unfortunately, your response did little address those
concerns. I find it completely unfair to support capping claims without also requiring the AMA and state medical boards to prevent and punish malpractice. This is a one-sided position that only helps doctors and insurance companies. My daughter will never be able to obtain health insurance on her own. How much is that worth to her.
Given your position on this issue, I feel that I can no longer support you for the US Senate. In the future, I will work towards your defeat in the Senate. In addition, counter to my historical record, I will no longer support any Republican for any legislature if they hold the same position.
Finally, I will be forwarding your response to the NC Brachial Plexus Injury Association. I believe it is important for them to be aware of your position as well.
Unfortunately, I suspect it will not be until a loved one is injured by a negligent doctor that you, and other Republicans, will see my side.
Sincerely,
Clint Ward
Here is her response:
Dear Mr. Ward:
Thank you so much for taking time to write to me about medical malpractice reform. Receiving your ideas and concerns is so important in order for me to represent you, and our state, to the best of my ability in the United States Senate.
I want to ensure that every family in North Carolina has access to affordable, quality health care. In order to alleviate increasing cost of healthcare, it is clear that we need to reform the present system. I
strongly support capping non-economic damages and punitive damages at $250,000 and reducing the excessive awards that have put a serious drain on the system.
Reforming medical malpractice litigation would allow the victims of real malpractice to recover full economic damages, such as past and future medical expenses, loss of past and future earnings, and cost of domestic services, while also lowering health care costs, increasing access to health care services, and ensuring affordable liability insurance for doctors.
In North Carolina, the number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed has increased 18 percent in the past five years. Hospitals in the Charlotte area are currently facing liability insurance premium increases of up to 400 percent. Several physician insurance companies have exited the North Carolina and have left physicians and hospitals with fewer options for coverage. Premium increases have resulted in the dramatic escalation of health care costs, which subsequently have forced many employers to either
increase co-payments or drop coverage altogether. The result has been that many North Carolinians have been left without access to the health care they so desperately need.
Nationally, medical liability costs add between $60 billion and $110 billion to health care costs each year. Many of our highly qualified and dedicated medical professionals have left North Carolina, choosing instead to relocate their practices to other states that offer some medical malpractice relief. Doctors in many states cannot afford the liability coverage they need in order to see patients or even volunteer free clinical services. In addition, doctors are being forced to choose their practice area based on the affordability of insurance premiums, leaving many fields such as OB-GYN, emergency and trauma care, and neurosurgery with critical doctor shortages.
I assure you that I will continue to work to create a health care system that best serves our State and our Nation. Medical malpractice reform will benefit health care recipients and providers alike by both reducing cost and increasing accessibility. This will help provide North Carolinians with access to health care services they so vitally need and deserve.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your ideas and concerns. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With my warmest best wishes,
Elizabeth Dole
Needless to say I was not very impressed. Here was my response back:
Dear Sen. Dole:
I appreciate that you took the time to respond to my concerns over medicalmalpractice reform. Unfortunately, your response did little address those
concerns. I find it completely unfair to support capping claims without also requiring the AMA and state medical boards to prevent and punish malpractice. This is a one-sided position that only helps doctors and insurance companies. My daughter will never be able to obtain health insurance on her own. How much is that worth to her.
Given your position on this issue, I feel that I can no longer support you for the US Senate. In the future, I will work towards your defeat in the Senate. In addition, counter to my historical record, I will no longer support any Republican for any legislature if they hold the same position.
Finally, I will be forwarding your response to the NC Brachial Plexus Injury Association. I believe it is important for them to be aware of your position as well.
Unfortunately, I suspect it will not be until a loved one is injured by a negligent doctor that you, and other Republicans, will see my side.
Sincerely,
Clint Ward