Pa. Hospitals Applaud House Republicans’ Request for State of Emergency

The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) recognized state House Republicans as they called for Governor Ed Rendell (D) to declare a state of emergency in the Commonwealth as a result of the growing liability crisis. In issuing their appeal to the governor, House Republicans laid out a series of proposals to address the problem.

“We must focus on longer-term tort reform efforts now to stabilize and improve the liability insurance market,” Carolyn Scanlan, President and CEO of HAP, commented. “I applaud the House Republicans for pressing for more immediate action.”

“At the heart of the Republican plan is a proposal calling for limits on noneconomic damages. Now both House and Senate Republicans have placed this issue at the forefront of the discussions on long-term tort reform. Clearly we have a strong and solid legislative call to action to enact structural reforms to Pennsylvania’s liability insurance and tort systems.”

Scanlan said that the reforms enacted in 2002, the short-term relief plan put forth by Governor Rendell’s medical liability task force, and these latest House and Senate proposals all support Pennsylvanians’ access to health care.