Providers issue brief: Medical malpractice: tort reform: year end report-2003

Many questions exist surrounding the origins of the escalating cost of medical malpractice coverage. Insurers and health providers claim excessive litigation and overly generous jury awards have hardened the market. The American Trial Lawyers Association and consumer advocacy groups claim insurance premium rates have not tracked medical inflation or the payouts of jury awards over the last 30 years. State efforts have been hampered by the lack of conclusive data as to the cause . However, the potential impact is very clear, limited health care access as result of a loss in the health care workforce.