Medical Liability
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, national estimates of medical liability system costs—including settlements, legal and administrative costs, and defensive medicine—range from $55.6 billion annually to $200 billion.
In response to longstanding concerns about Pennsylvania’s legal climate, HAP has joined with the state’s leading business and medical voices to form the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform (PCCJR). PCCJR’s mission is to improve the state’s overall legal liability system to help attract and retain health care providers and ensure access to health services.
For more information, visit HAP’s
medical liability section.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine can be used to connect providers to patients at a distance and address shortages of specialty providers, such as behavioral health or dermatology. It can be used to deliver life-saving care, such as stroke care, and routine care in a timely, cost-effective manner.
COVID-19 has propelled the use of telemedicine forward years in the span of months. HAP is dedicated to ensuring the innovations in technology and payment for services provided through telemedicine are maintained so that Pennsylvania doesn’t slip backwards, but keeps its eyes on the future of health care.
False Claims Act
HAP opposes a state-based false claims act. The hospital industry is already heavily regulated and implementing a state false claims act would jeopardize the financial viability of struggling rural hospitals and likely result in financial drain across the state. A state false claims act would:
- Be duplicative of the federal false claims act
- Incentivize attorneys and whistleblowers to file meritless lawsuits
- Further stress the financial stability of hospitals, especially in rural areas
Read HAP's fact sheet for more details about how a state false claims act could jeopardize access to care in Pennsylvania.
HAP Contacts
For more information, contact Heather Tyler, vice president, state legislative advocacy. Media inquiries should be directed to Liam Migdail, HAP's director, media relations.