Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020 - 25

L C M E D S O C .O R G

A

Senate resolution passed in
February 2019 directed the
Pa. Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee (LBFC)
to study the impact of venue for medical
professional liability actions. The LBFC's
study was released on Feb. 3, 2020.

availability of health care services for people
who need them," PCCJR and the coalition
said in a statement released on Feb. 3.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE
VENUE REPORT
The LBFC looked at venue from the time
period of 1996 through 2018. The study
The state's current venue rule, in effect did not reach a definitive conclusion on the
since 2003, provides that a medical pro- impact of the 2003 venue rule.
fessional liability action may be brought
against a health care provider only in the REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
county in which the cause of action arose. INCLUDE:
The current rule was implemented as one part
* The cost of medical professional liability insurance
of the state's medical liability tort reforms
in Pa. increased significantly from 1996 to its peak
in 2002-2003.
around 2007, before decreasing.
The Pa. Supreme Court's Civil Procedural
Rules Committee is proposing a rule that
would significantly expand potential venues.
PAMED REACTION TO THE
LBFC VENUE REPORT
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil
Justice Reform (PCCJR), of which The
Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED)
is a founding member, strongly opposes
any change to the current medical liability
venue rule. While the group is still analyzing
the report, its preliminary review finds that
the LBFC report does not support efforts
to change the current rule.
"A return to old rules would have profound,
real-world consequences on the delivery
of health care in Pennsylvania, including
increased liability premiums for doctors and
hospitals, which in return will impact the

* The LBFC acknowledged that a change in the
venue rule, coupled with the regionalization of
hospital services, would likely have a destabilizing
effect on the insurance market, at least in the
short term, as insurers will likely have a more
difficult time predicting costs.

In early 2019, when we mobilized our
members and other stakeholders to send
their comments to the Pa. Supreme Court's
Civil Procedural Rules Committee that is
proposing this change, nearly 2,600 people
responded. If more action is needed, can we
count on you?

* Compensation for injuries from medical negligence
by physicians decreased by 13.7 percent from
2003 to 2018.
* LBFC was unable to reach a conclusion on the
impact of venue on patient access to health
care. It noted that access to care involves many
different variables including health insurance
coverage and geographic locations.

Carl K. Rosenberger
Regional Media Account Executive
carl@@hoffpubs.com
610-685-0914 *204

Publishing Group

Stay vigilant by watching our venue
webpage at  www.pamedsoc.org/venuerule for more information and next steps. 

* The number of medical malpractice filings has
decreased by 44.9 percent between the period
of 2000-2002 and 2015-2017.

"We're building better
communications and consumer
connections every day.
See how we could help you!"

hoffpubs.com

WHAT'S NEXT?
During the LBFC's public meeting on
Monday, Senator Lisa Baker, a member of
LBFC and Chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, commented that further consideration of the topic may be warranted
suggesting the possibility of a public hearing.
Additionally, we will work with our PCCJR
partners to analyze and respond to the
LBFC's report. 

Service & Repair of

In Ground & Above Ground Swimming Pools

Openings * Closings * Plumbing * Water Analysis / adjustment
Filter equipment diagnostics / repairs / replacements * Weekly / bi weekly cleanings

crystalvisionpoolsPA.com
215-470-6310 * 610-780-3614 * 484-258-2600
SPRING 2020 | Lehigh County Health & Medicine 25
http://www.LCMEDSOC.ORG http://www.pamedsoc.org/venuer http://www.crystalvisionpoolsPA.com http://www.hoffpubs.com
Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020
